Implement Sheds 



By K. J. T. Ekblaw 



A very fair indication of the thrift and general pros- 

 perity of a farmer is the method he employs in caring for 

 his tools. Shiftlessness, waste, lack of energy, constant buy- 

 ing and heavy burdens of debt will accompany poor care. 

 Good care is an indication of shrewdness, business ability, 

 long-lived machinery, comfortable bank balances and the 

 assurance of a peaceful, prosperous future. 



To the progressive man, figures speak more forcibly 

 than does the most persuasive lecturer on economic topics. 

 The report of the United States Census for 1910 contains 

 some figures that bear a distinct message to the farmers of 

 the country. In 1900 the value of all farm property in the 

 shape of farm implements and machinery was $749,775,970; 

 in 1910 this same value had increased to $1,265,149,783, 

 representing an increase of 68.7 per cent. This increase can 

 be ascribed mainly to increased quantity rather than to 

 higher prices, for the increase in price of farm machinery has 

 been comparatively slight. It means that the farmers are 

 realizing the benefits to be derived from the use of labor- 

 saving machinery. In 1900 the acreage of improved land in 

 farms was 414,498,487; in 1910 this became 478,451,750, an 

 increase of only 15.4 per cent. These figures may be a little 

 more significant if expressed in the following way: In 1900 

 there was $1.80 worth of machinery for each acre of im- 

 proved farm land; in 1910 this had increased to $2.65, or an 

 increase of over 47 per cent. 



These figures will immediately indicate an opportunity 

 for the furtherance of economic agriculture. With so much 

 capital invested in equipment, the American farmer would 

 certainly be a very bad business man indeed if he did not 



Three 



