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CHAPTER XXVII 

 FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MECHANICS 



1. Importance of Implements -and Tools 



NE of the most important and interesting phases of 

 agriculture is the study of farm implements, their 

 origin, history, utility, value, proper care and up-keep. 



Tillage and tools. Good crops and large profits usu- 

 ally depend upon wise management and proper tillage ; and 

 good tillage requires the use of tools adapted to the soil, 

 the particular crops, and the condition under which the 

 farming is done. It is poor economy to farm with unfit 

 tools, or implements in poor repair. On the other hand 

 it is possible to have too large an amount of money in- 

 vested in farm implements and machinery. A number of 

 the larger farm machines, such as corn harvesters, thrash- 

 ing machines or shredders, can be owned cooperatively in 

 a community and made to do the work of four to ten farm- 

 ers instead of one. This will reduce both the first cost and 

 the up-keep. 



The care of machinery. It is generally considered 

 that a machine kept in good repair, and well housed when 

 not in use, will last as long doing the work of five farmers 

 as a machine owned by a single farmer and doing but one- 

 fifth of the work, if neglected and allowed to stand out- 

 of-doors in rain, snow and all kinds of weather when idle. 

 There is no better test of the progressiveness and good 

 management of a farm than the way the farm tools and 

 machinery are treated. 



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