300 How THE FARM PAYS. 



kept over during a slack season, so that they may be available when 

 work presses for a short time only. 



A portable engine is much more useful than a stationary one, as it 

 can be taken to its work, for forcing water to the buildings, clearing 

 land of stone or stumps, threshing in the field, hauling loads, etc., and 

 for use in the barn can be drawn into its place, where it will 

 stand and work without any costly bedding in permanent masonry. 

 In procuring a steam engine the mistake is almost invariably made of 

 getting too light and small a one, and in a short time this has to be 

 discarded for the larger one, which should have been procured at 

 first. A safe rule in this respect is, where a three-horse engine is 

 thought to be sufficient a five-horse power should be chosen, and for 

 all larger ones a ten-horse engine will be found the most economical 

 even at the rather larger cost. 



