150 Our Farming. 



spreader, I always took great pains in this respect, and harrowed 

 and bushed after the best hand work. I would like to wear the 

 manure all out, so you could hardly find a trace of it. One can 

 thus make the most out of it, beyond all question. And still I 

 see many fields roughly covered and plowed under in this shape. 

 Often, I believe, I could get twice as much out of it. I want fine 

 manure with fine tillage. I would like a trace of it in every 

 square inch of soil, if possible. How very far short of this many 

 come. The spreader does not seem to give satisfaction on very 

 large farms, where they have a long distance to draw, as it does 

 not hold load enough. However, I believe a larger size is now 

 made than the one I have. It is all right in this respect on my 

 little farm, with fields mostly right around the barn. It will not 

 work well on side-hill farms, if they are too steep to go up and 

 down. On ordinary rolling land it need not draw hard. My 

 lightest horses will handle it readily. But it must be in order, or 

 it may be a regular horse killer. It must be well oiled and cared 

 for, and kept under cover when not in use. It is no small job to 

 get it thoroughly oiled in every place, and some will not take the 

 trouble. We get ours out under the covered yard some rainy 

 day beforehand, and get it in perfect order when we are not in a 

 hurry. This is not an advertisement, but a farmer's experience. 

 I bought mine of an agent at wholesale price, for cash down, and 

 have never met one of the firm or had a letter from them. Tools 

 are sometimes sent me to try, but always with the agreement that 

 I may say just what I think about them after trial, and many 

 have been sent back, and the reasons given in my articles in the 

 papers. Our yard is sheltered by barn and tool house on north 

 and west sides, and planked up seven feet on east and south sides 

 and then open five feet above to let in air and sun. It is about 

 twelve feet high on one side and fourteen on the other (nearly flat 

 roof, covered with tin), just high enough to answer our purpose. 

 We had plenty of storage room in main barn, and had no need of 

 more over covered yard. Some farmers, if building one, might 

 to advantage build higher and use room overhead for storing 

 straw, fodder, etc. Tke method of supporting roof can be seen 

 from picture given, which was published in The Practical Farmer 

 a year or two ago. 



We have three posts in the middle, and the beams are sup- 

 ported in other places by iron rods, three-quarters of an inch in 

 diameter. Our tin roof has never troubled any, only needs to be 

 kept painted. A light coat of boiled oil and Iron-clad paint is 

 best, once in two or three years. It should not be too thick or it 

 may peel. You should particularly notice that the yard is open 

 to the east and south the warm direction and sun can and does 

 shine in and across yard in the morning freely and part way across 

 at noon. A dark, gloomy yard would not suit me, any more than 

 a dark stable with no sunshine. Also remember that the manure 



