311 



ECONOMY OF LABOR-SAVING 

 MACHINES. 



A little reflection will show, that to 

 Sitve time is a great gain, while ti liberal, 

 though economical expenditure of money 

 is equally so. Labor-saving machines in 

 a fa T rm-kitchen are, therefore, of the ut- 

 most importance, as they not only save 

 time, but strength ; for instance, if a far- 

 mer expends a few dollars in the purchase 

 of a churn so constructed that it will 

 bring butter in €ve, ten, or twenty min- 

 utes, and afterwards work the butter fit 

 for printing, and this only by turning the 

 handle (and there are such churns now 

 in use), he will soon perceive that he has 

 gained more than at first sight he could 

 think possible. If he adds to this, pans 

 for hot water, in which the milk-pans can 

 be placed to prevent the new milk from 

 cooling too rapidly, he will find on churn- 

 ing day, that he has gained one-fifth more 

 butter than by the ordinary method. If 

 such liberal conveniences are allowed the 

 farmer's wife and daughters, as the mo- 

 dern sausage-chopper, that noiseless friend 

 to the farmer's wife, that will silently do 

 in two hours what it would take a man 

 a whole day to accomplish by his single 

 arm, or if a wood-shed in which the 

 kitchen shall open, where a space can be 

 portioned off for barrels and boxes that 

 are to be receptacles for all sorts of things 

 that the women should have in use close 

 to the scene of their labors, and to receive 

 trash that otherwise would be thrown out, 

 littering the yard, and giving an air of 

 unthrift that is always disgusting, and if 

 saved in barrels and carefully collected on 

 a compost heap, will serve as manure for 

 the garden or farm, of the best quality, 

 the farmer himself will find in a short 

 time, that in saving his strength, time, 

 and health, he has gained at the end of 

 the year, at least, the price of the labor- 

 saving machines, and the following year, j 

 there will be a clear profit of money as 

 well as time, that can be spent more pro- 

 fitably in lighter and equally useful occu- 

 pations. If in the above mentioned wood- 

 house, a row of barrels be placed close to 

 the kitchen door, one for ready made soap, 



one for soap-fat, into which is previous!}' 

 placed twenty-five pounds of potash, and 

 two barrels of water, one for pig-slop, an- 

 other for bones and all the worthless scraps 

 and sweepings of the house, and another 

 for chicken feed, the following results will 

 take place: — The soap being close at 

 hand, can be used, when it is wanted, and 

 there will be no excuse fur things not 

 being kept perfectly clean. If the barrel 

 of potash and water be kept close at 

 hand, ten times' as much soap-fat will be 

 gathered and saved, as if the barrel were 

 not there; for it will take no more time 

 to throw it there than into the pig's barrel, 

 or to the dog. The potash will prevent 

 the fat from becoming mouldy, or filled 

 with skippers, which it is apt lo do when 

 collected in the usual way. The soap 

 will make itself, if stined once or twice a 

 week. Potash, instead of lye, is most 

 economical, as it is more certain in its re- 

 sults; and the ashes are more valuable 

 on the manure heap or pasture land than 

 what the soap is worth. The pig-slop 

 will be under the mistress's eye, and in- 

 gredients neither too good nor too bad 

 will be put in. The bones and scraps, 

 now so highly prized as manure, may all 

 be saved ; and last, not least, dirt is not 

 made, and the time and strength that 

 would otherwise be taken in cleaning and 

 scouring are saved for better purposes: 

 and the chickens may be regularly fed 

 without waste of time. 



On a farm, as in a beehive, all should 

 be workers, and the drones sent off. The 

 women as well as the men, should work : 

 but all will find that the best economy is 

 to save, whether it. be in time or money, 

 or strength, though all should be diligent- 

 ly, carefully, and liberally used, if the 

 farmer wishes to thrive. If from a care- 

 ful management of time, you save one 

 hour a day, either from unnecessary sleep, 

 pleasure, or ignorance, you will gain in 

 (five years, seventy-five days and two 

 hours for profitable improvement of mind 

 or means. — American Agriculturist. 



Sulphur is very valuable in preserving 

 grapes from insects. 



