4 MINOR ARTICLES OF FARM EQUIPMENT. 



subjects, but owing to the great number of small purchases made 

 this fact is seldom realized except by the few who have made careful 

 inventories at stated intervals. Ignorance of this fact leads farmers 

 in general to neglect an extremely valuable portion of their equip- 

 ment, and it would probably be found that the decrease in value of 

 the small articles is much more rapid than that of the major items, 

 for which an annual rate of depreciation of 7.3 per cent has been 

 established." The low estimates regarding tliis part of the equip- 

 ment also prove disappointing to the manager of a new farming 

 venture who finds it necessary to make an increased outla}^ on this 

 account, attended by a readjustment of his plans. 



The importance of having a good working ec[uipment in small 

 articles and the absolute necessity of caring for it are matters which 

 should be apparent to the thoughtful farmer and need not be dwelt 

 upon further. The waste of time in making numerous special trips 

 for small articles is also apparent, particularly when it is considered 

 that many of these occur in the busiest seasons. This coidd be 

 avoided to a large extent by taking an inventory during a slack 

 period and replacing all missing items at the first opportunity. 

 Concerning the loss through ignorance of the equipment needed, 

 however, less has been said, and it is in regard to the requirement in 

 the way of miscellaneous articles and their purchase that this paper 

 ^\^ll be largely devoted. 



In selecting the minor equipment for a given farm consideration 

 must be given not only to the articles needed for the care and repair 

 of buildings, fences, machinery, etc., but to those used for the care 

 of live stock, the production of crops, and the various other interests 

 of the farm. With every change in the type of farm involving a 

 new combination of enterprises, a change in minor equipment will 

 be necessary. For each of the many specialized types of farms 

 certain articles will be needed wdiich will not be found necessary on 

 farms generally. To attempt to determine the equipment in small 

 items necessary for all these special types is beyond the scope of this 

 paper, which will attempt to cover only those items found in most 

 common use on farms of the general type. By this is meant farms 

 of moderate size on whicli both crops and live stock are raised with- 

 out particular emphasis on the production or disposition of any one 

 product. 



The nature of the minor equipment will be determined largely by 

 the character of the farm enterprises antl the proximity of repair and 

 shopping facilities, wliile its extent may be governed by the size of 

 the farm, the number of workmen, and the financial circumstances 

 of the proprietor. Perhaps both the nature and the extent of the 



"Bulletin 73, Bureau of Statistirs, U. S. Dept. of Ajjriculture. 

 ICir. 44] 



