TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR IRRIGATION PLANT. 



BY JOHN M. IRWIN, Freeport, 111. 



The best and strongest machinery may be quickly and perma- 

 nently injured if carelessly allowed to run without oil, or with nuts 

 working loose and bolts falling out of place. Be careful to oil the 

 mill as often as necessary, with the best lubricating oil to be had. 

 There is no economy in using cheap, low grade oil. Every time the 

 mill is oiled examine nuts and bolts, and keep the nuts tight on all 

 bolts. Should a nut be lost off or a bolt be lost, stop the mill until it 

 is again put back in proper position. If any bearings are found to 

 have run dry from want of sufficient oiling, and show much wear, the 

 sooner new ones are obtained and the old ones replaced the better it 

 will be for the life of the mill. 



The tower also should receive proper care and attention. Wind 

 mills for irrigation work are usually held into very strong winds, 

 which put a heavy strain on the tower and will soon rack an ordinary 

 wood tower, and has a tendency to loosen bolts in steel towers. 



The pump will demand its full share of attention. The valves in 

 the cylinder will require repairing and sometimes renewing. Should 

 the lower valve leak, the pump will lose its priming when the mill 

 stops; and if the upper valves leak, the quantity of water that should 

 be delivered at each stroke will not be obtained. These repairs can 

 be easily made by almost any one who uses a good irrigation cylinder. 

 The owner should himself make these repairs as soon as needed. 



What then? It will often happen that a cylinder of larger capac- 



