254 THE FABM. 



gether pieces of hard wood boards. The wheel should have a "broad 

 tread " to prevent cutting in. A large cultivator tooth does tolerably well 

 for a shovel. It works weU for boy-power, by tying a drag rope to the end 

 of the tram. "With this a garden can be gone over in less than a fourth of the 

 time required to hoe it, the same time may be given on different days with 

 so much greater result, as the plowing is nearly as good as hoeing each time. 



Keep tlie Farm Tools SUarp—Too often these things are not thought 

 of until the articles are wanted, when much valuable time is lost in putting 

 in order what might as well have been done during the dull winter days. 

 It has been computed that the same man can do as much ia two days with a 

 8)iarp scythe as in three days with one comparatively dull, and the same 

 expenditure in force. And it is just the same in regard to all other tools or 

 implements, whether operated by hand, steam, or hoi-se power. The en- 

 gineer continually oils the machinery, and a good saw or file is oil to hand 

 implements. We know one who has a great deal of hand hoeing to do by 

 hired labor, and he believes the continued iise of the file on the hoes makes 

 a diff'ercnee of nearly one-half in the labor. His calculation is that every 

 ten-cent file he buys saves him ten dollars ia his laborers' bills. Look after 

 the spades, scythes, hoes, chisels, saws, etc. A good grindstone and a set 

 of files are among the best of farm investments. The best of all forehanded- 

 ness is that which prepares in advance a full set of good and well-repaired 

 t«olii to work with. 



