POWER ON THE FARM 401 



machines of the farm. In other cases they are made to 

 drive dynamos and generate current for all uses on the farm. 



This is often a very handy source of power for the farm 

 and too often is not realized by the owner. 



Hydraulic Ram. Where two or more feet of fall can be 

 secured within a hundred feet or so from a spring, it is usually 

 possible to place a hydraulic ram. This is a very inexpensive 

 device for forcing water to the house or other farm buildings. 



If water from a spring is thus forced to a small tank for 

 house purposes, much labor is saved forever. The ram oper- 

 ates with little or no wear and without the use of oil. It is 

 almost everlasting. 



A steady water supply of this kind makes it possible 

 to install a hot water tank in the kitchen and equip a 

 modern bathroom. 



The constant overflow of water from the house tank may 

 run to a dairy trough, then to a stock trough, then to a hog 

 wallow, then to a garden for irrigating purposes. 



Windmills. In many parts of the country windmills are 

 used for pumping water and for other light work. The wind 

 is variable in power and uncertain, and as a source for the 

 farm power it is not often used for operating belt machines. 

 This uncertainty and unsteadiness is usually not serious in 

 the pumping of water because a storage tank is easily sup- 

 plied. Large tanks are often built on the windmill tower. 



Windmills are easy to maintain and manage. Children 

 and women can throw them into gear, and a man or boy can 

 climb up to oil them. 



Animal Power. No power has yet been devised which is 

 more convenient than horses and mules for direct draft of 

 farm machinery. Tractor engines are only partly displacing 

 them for this purpose. The corners of fields can hardly be 

 plowed, harrowed, etc., without the use of animals. For 

 cultivation of truck crops, gardens, and similar purposes, 

 horse power is probably the best. 



