The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-03-03

prepared by the United States Depart.
ment of Agriculture)
1t Is poor business to neglect the
care Of leather. Every pair of Shoes
every machine belt, piece of harness,
or other leather product on the farm
that Is allowed to go to waste or not
made to yield its full service must be
needlessly replaced, thus adding I'M
necessary expense to the farm, say
specialists of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture. On many
farms set of harness lasts less than
ten years. Where eight or ten horses
are kept this means one new set of
harness every year. The department
mas received many reports, especially
from Southern states, showing that
harness lasts only from two to five
years. But good harness, properly
cared for, will last 20 years or more.
In every neighborhood there are cases
where farmers are cutting their har-
ness bills in half by giving the leather
cleaning and oiling occasionally.
Fifty million pairs of shoes could
be saved annually If the American
people kept their footwear In repair,
the specialists say. AS a nation we
buy some 30O,OOO,0OO pairs Of shoes a
year, but If each Individual cared for
his shoes properly the needs could be
supplied by 250.O0O,OOO pairs The
wasting of single shoe a year by
each person In the United States
would cost the country at least $780,
100000 annually at present prices of
shoes.
Any leather improperly used and
neglected will deteriorate rapidly. |
Belts for driving machinery, for ex-
ample, often become impaired. If not |
useless, within a few years even on
straight drives, but when they are
kept clean and oiled they will last
from ten to thirty years.
Selecting and Caring for Harness.
Harness that is too light or of poor
quality cannot give years Of service
In selecting harness, it Is more eco
nomical to get set that Is too heavy
than one which is too light for the
work required. Make sure especially
hat the reins, breeching. holdback
straps. tugs or traces, bellybands, and
oke straps are strong. A runaway
cam cannot be controlled with weak
'eins, nor will weak tugs and straps
tand heavy work. No portion of the
larness should show cracks on the
rain side when the leather is sharp
Y bent.
Harness should be washed and oiled
fhen 1t becomes dirty or extremely
Iy. For washing, use tepid water, IL
eutral soap, such as CASTLE or white {
'ilet soap, and sponge or fairly stir !
rush. Hardened grease is very con- '
eniently removed by scraping with f
dull knife. Rinse in clean tepid [
alter, and allow the harness to stand {
i warm place until it is no longer ! G
ct but still damp. Then oil it and t
ave II In warm place for "a hours o
fore being used. Harness should be
led or creased while still damp, 9TH d
wise, 1t may take up so much grease p
at 1t will pull out of shape or take p
sand and grit, which will injure it. Il
well as spoil its appearance Har- W
'ss should never look or feel g
easy. e
Neats-foot or castor oil or a mix a.
re OF these with wool grease Is good NJ
r driving harness. For heavy har- tie
IS use mixture of any or all of al
ese with wool grease to make a to
ste. having about the consistency
butter Apply the grease lightly to in
wing harness and literally to work m
rness Rub the oil or grease, warm of
the hand thoroughly into the leath- vi
willie 1t is still damp from wash tn
: After the harness has hung in ha
rm room overnight, remove with a In
i'm dry cloth the excess of oil which be
! leather Is unable to take up.