Evening star., 1947-12-07
Tools, Gadgets
Suggested for
Yule Giving
By jones BirchfieId

BY jones Birehfield
Having recently become a part
time farmer and an amateur horti-
culturist,'I am eagerly awaiting San
ta's visit this year, fully expecting
that the section of his pack re-
served for me will contain some of
those items that one might never
buy but nevertheless would delight
the possessor.
I mean, of course, those tools and
gadgets that, while they may not be
essential to the growing Of prize
rhubarb plant or a tasty radish,
cause aches of longing when they
are seen in the pages OF the daily
newspaper or the mail-order cata-
logue.
And while the tools and gadgets
may hold top place in the desires of
the average male farmer or gar
dener, the more prosaic things, such
as a dozen strawberry plants, a ton
of lime or a bag of 4-10-4 fertilizer,
would not be unwelcome under the
Virginia cedar that I already have
picked out and will cut in due time
for my Christmas tree.
Almost Any Gift Welcome.
And speaking of cedars reminds
me that I would not receive up-
kindly the present Of days labor
in helping me rid some Of my acres
of an unwelcome growth of scrub
pines that soon may make inroads
on my garden spot if left unchecked.
This goes to show that almost
anything that remotely pertains to
farming or gardening will be
welcome gift. And in listing some
Of my wants it may be that some
harassed wife whose husband has
similar interests may take heart, or
some rich friend of a poor farmer
may be inspired to make present of
that combine or pickup bailer that
might spell the difference between
profit and loss to his friend.
Any way you take it, the field is
wide one. Just shut your eyes and
grab and most likely you will come
up with something that will brighten
my (and incidentally, any farmer
gardeners) Christmas morning.
Tractors for Yule Stockings.
Let's start off with a tractor.
Don't any one give me one, because
I already have mortgaged my left
leg to buy one. But from the fun
I have had in just riding it around
over my place, I know that no gift
could bring greater joy to the part
time farmer.
Mine is riding model. one of the
Farmall Cubs, but there are other
kinds and types to fit every mans
stocking.
Let's keep our thoughts big for
awhile Anybody that wants to can
give me trailer that will hitch on
my tractor or auto q wagon with
which can haul things around my
place; a spring tooth harrow for my
garden: 10 tons of lime for my back
field; two bushels of orchard grass
seed, or the equivalent in bluegrass,
or a cordwood saw that will help
me clean up my Woodlot.
And if that isn't big enough,
have friend who can use pickup
bailer, a combine, heavy disc
harrow, or almost any item OF farm
machinery that you can think OF.
Some OF these items are not easy to
get these days, but he or will be
glad to get in the waiting line that
Is now forming on the right.
Less Expensive Gifts.
And now, after sailing for a
while through the clouds, we Will
come, down and skim a little closer
to the ground. What about one
OF those fancy lamps that would tlt
on a post just outside my yard gate?
Or an electric hedge trimmer, or
a power iaWnmoWer to cut the grass
that I hope to have?
Perhaps even some OF that fancy
wrought iron yard furniture, or one
of those snow shovels on wheels
for making paths, or lawn
sprinkler or grass shears. And
there is no gardener, no matter now
small his plot, that can't find uses
for portable, fencing, or work
bench for the shop.
1 like the springtime because or
the daffodils, the crocuses and the
grape hyaclnths. So nothing
would please me more than couple
thousand spring bulbs. That is,
of course, If some one is provided
to do the planting. Without the
planter, I will settle for hundred
or SO of the kind 1 can naturallze
in my meadow.
Only the Beginning Of List.
This, OF course, is Just a be-
ginning. The seed catalogues and
stores are full of seeds I would like
to try next spring, and the nurseries
are crammed with plants 1 would
like to transfer to my acres.
SO, If any one, after getting this
far, has decided to put me on his
Christmas list, just hasten down to
the nearest farm or garden store
and be guided only by his pocket
book.
Anything, just anything at all.
will be fine.