88 FOR BETTER CROPS IN THE SOUTH 



the mice. I grease the sickles of the mowers and binders, wrap 

 them up, and put them away in a dry place. Then when I have 

 occasion to use these machines I put the sickles back in place, 

 and before the first circuit of the field is completed they are as 

 bright and shiny as when new. 



"Perhaps also the question of pride helps a little, because I 

 always like to have everything about the farm clean and bright. 

 I generally use red paint because I like that color, and because 

 red lead is better than white lead for outside work. I keep even 

 the tongues and whififletrees of my wagons as good as new. 

 They are mostly made of locust in our country, and when prop- 

 erly painted, last a century. 



" This painting is not just a hobby ; I have found that it pays. 

 One time I sold a binder which I had used steadily for six years, 

 for over two-thirds of what it cost me, and I didn't cheat the 

 fellow, either. It was practically as good as new. 



"I am a paint advocate alright, and it seems to me that 

 hired men may come and hired men may go, but my wagons, 

 mowers, and drills go on forever. 



"I don't use up all this paint because I feel more friendly 

 toward the paint manufacturers than I do toward the Interna- 

 tional Harvester Company of America. It is merely a matter 

 of economy with me because paint is cheaper than new machines. 



"I am even more cranky on the lubricants. You know the 

 parts of a binder, for instance, that are subject to wear are the 

 chains, the gears, the boxes, and knotter. Painting won't help 

 these, but plenty of oil will. When I first started farming the 

 most important bit of barn furniture was the oil can. I make 

 it a rule, after each long trip, to grease my wagons, with the 

 result that they are always ready and always ship-shape. I 

 invent patent dust protectors of my own when none come with 

 a machine, and where this is not possible I keep the exposed 

 parts well cleaned. 



" Now all of this may seem rather unimportant to some farm- 

 ers, or they may think it a great deal of trouble for nothing, 

 but I never notice the trouble and, in the long run, I find that 

 it is a good form of economy. I farmed for many years, at a 

 time when prices were much lower than they are now, and I 

 made my farm pay. I do not claim that it was all due to my 

 caring for my equipment, but the fact that I have made every 

 cent of capital invested in machines return 100 cents on the 

 dollar, and then some, has had a great deal to do with my 

 prosperity." 



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