310 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



shop, and for repairing, but here one may make numerous things, such as 

 staples and hooks, clevises, rings, a large spike for any peculiar place, a hog 

 hook, cant hook, and many such things; at the same time using up old and 

 otherwise useless pieces of iron, which are constantly accumulating. 



The harness shop is of little use, except for repairing, and by taking a 

 stitch in time save nine. A few stitches at the harness shop cost twenty-five 

 cents, and this pays a farm hand for a quarter of a day. Every kind of shop 

 work, as far as possible, should be done in advance. The farmer should not 

 fail to have a list of jobs made out, to which he may refer at any time, and 

 see what is to be done. This will save time, relieve the mind from needless 

 tax, and often be the means of doing the proper thing, while one would other- 

 wise pass it by for something of secondary importance. In my own experi- 

 ence, I find this very important. Sometimes I hire a man who has worked 

 with a carpenter, or a blacksmith, at some time, and in such cases I take 

 advantage of the circumstance to have Avork done in that particular line. 

 When I find a man good at one job, I let him work at it as much as possible, 

 and in this way have work done a year or two ahead. If one keeps plenty of 

 men and keeps work done in advance, he can often take advantage of circum- 

 stances in this way, with great benefit. 



I have said that every farmer, of any importance, needs shop and tools. 

 This is a very general rule, and I do not say that it has no exceptions. Ido say 

 that they are few. I do not say that any farmer ought to get out timber this 

 winter ready to build a shop in the spring, or that he ought to build or stock 

 up with mechanics' tools, this year, or any particular year. I do say that his 

 business is not simply agricultural, but that it is just as truly mechanical, to 

 a certain extent, and that as a business man, he ought to be aware of this 

 fact. Give it its proper place, and furnish himself with the means of carry- 

 ing on this part of his business. That there is plenty of mechanical work on 

 the farm which the farmer or his hired help are capable of doing, and much 

 time which will otherwise be lost in which he or his men may earn good wages 

 at such work. That a shop and tools are a valuable accident insurance, and 

 that from their use a man gains ability in adapting the machinery and other 

 conveniences of the farm to their work that he can gain from no other source, 

 and that only when he recoguizes these facts can he reach the limits of his 

 possibilities as a farmer. 



FARM IMPLEMENTS AND THEIR CARE. 



BT H. MARHOFF. 

 [Read at Galesburg Institute.] 



Mr. President, Members of the Kalamazoo County Husbandman's 

 Club, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have not supposed that I was honored 

 with this appointment because I was likely to say anything which has not been 

 said, and better said, long ago. But if on the other hand I am expected to 

 say something that shall throw some light upon the important subject of 

 "Farm Implements and their Care," or shall say something that will bring 

 out a discussion that will throw some light upon the subject, then I have not 



