98 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



necessary during certain seasons, the owner should he able to get 

 repairs on not over one day's notice, if not at once. Instances have 

 occurred where the farmer was compelled to buy a new machine of 

 another make simply because he was unable to get a repair for his 

 old machine in time to do the necessary work. 



Good visible oiling devices should be found on every farm ma- 

 chine. In selecting machinery this point should be kept in mind, 

 as the life of the machine depends to a considerable extent upon 

 whether or not it can be kept thoroughly oiled. Often all the neces- 

 sary oiling provisions are made, but they are not in as plain sight as 

 they should be and for this reason are likely to be overlooked. 



Co-operative Ownership. While on some farms there is too 

 little machinery and horse-power used to properly cultivate the land 

 and save human labor, on others there is too much. Careful statis- 

 tical studies of farms in Minnesota have shown that horses are em- 

 ployed on an average only about three hours a day. At least two- 

 thirds of their available energy, therefore, goes to waste, making 

 the cost of the energy used very high. The same is true of expen- 

 sive tools which are used only for a short period during the year. 

 The interest on the money invested in them and the cost of deteriora- 

 tion and repairs considerably reduce the profits of production. A 

 farmer needs to figure very carefully before investing in cornshellers, 

 shredders, thrashers, power plows, etc., especially if the use of this 

 needful machinery can be obtained by hire at a reasonable rate or 

 co-operative ownership arranged. The latter method will doubtless 

 be the final solution of the problem. There is, however, more to 

 consider in the use of such machinery than the mere question of a 

 few cents more or less profit. Freeing the man from slavish work in 

 the process of production is the greatest thing and the greatest saving 

 of all, even if it does cost more in dollars and cents. 



Unnecessary weight and friction in the construction and work- 

 ing of machinery is also a cause of considerable waste of energy. 

 American agricultural tools are much better in these respects than 

 foreign tools, but great improvements, without sacrifice of strength 

 or utility, might still be accomplished. The use of wide tires on 

 wagons has made hauling easier and improved and packed rather 

 than cut ruts in the roads. The farmer who still uses narrow tires 

 for heavy loads is not only w r asting time and horse energy, but is 

 guilty of cruelty to animals and the destruction of the public high- 

 ways. The relation between weight of load and width of tire and 

 the maintenance of roads in each section should be carefully consid- 

 ered and fixed by local regulations. 



Closely related to the healthfulness, convenience, and cheapness 

 of farm buildings is the right selection, care, and use of farm ma- 

 chinery. The studies of pumping machinery have shown that the 

 most important factor in its successful use is the mechanical skill of 

 the farmer, and we are beginning to understand that the increased 

 complexity and cost of farm machinery make the education of the 

 American farmer along these lines more and more desirable. 



