The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
867 
Steam or Gasoline; Windmill for 
Electric Power 
1. I have a small sawmill which at 
pres out is run by a 15-h.p. gasoline en¬ 
gine. As this engine is absolutely worth¬ 
less, I have to get some other kind of 
power. I am hesitating befweu a steam 
engine of 1 2 or 15 h.p. and a tractor, 
I understand that steam makes the best 
power to saw with, but 1 know nothing 
about steam engines, either their price or 
their workings. Is there a constant 
tinkering with them, and replacement 
required like a gas engine? Do the 
repairs require an expert to make? 
in fact. I do not think that I should ever 
want to move my mill, so the question 
of moving the engine around would not 
enter into the question. The use for a 
tractor on my farm would he very little. 
I should probably saw only in the dead 
of Winter, so my lire hazard would not 
be much. The conditions being such. I 
am undecided between steam and gas. 
I have had some experience with gas en¬ 
gines. and off-hand I should decide to get 
any other kind of power in the world. I 
am Writing this to find out if steam gets 
out of order as easily as gas. whether it 
is easily run, whether there is much over¬ 
hauling to it.. In other words, I want, to 
know the outs of a small steam euginc. 
Some time hack I noticed n query as to 
burning green wood. Ash burns the best, 
making a quick, hot tire, nearly as good 
as dry wood. Gray birch is the next best. 
2. I have seen advertisement of a farm 
electric plant run by windmill power. 
What should you say the outs of such a 
system were? b. s. 
1. A< you suggest, the steam engine 
makes a very dependable, smooth-working 
power, kike the gas engine, it requires 
occasional adjustment of hearings, etc. 
Unlike the gas engine, it will continue to 
operate, although not so effectively, when 
minor things are wrong, the gas engine 
stopping under similar conditions. A 
point against the steam engine is the 
attention required while running, main¬ 
taining a fire and the proper water level 
in the boiler. Then. too. it has to be 
fired up some little time before it is 
needed to secure a steam pressure. If 
you are already familiar with a gasoline 
engine it seems probable that you would 
be best satisfied with this type of power, 
as very little attention is required when 
once the engine is started and the oper¬ 
ator is free for other work. However, if 
the engine is to he- used only for work 
in the sawmill, why buy a tractor? If to 
be used solely for stationary work, it 
would seem that a heavy stationary en¬ 
gine, burning kerosene oil, would be 
superior for this particular purpose. 
Such an engine could he placed on a 
secure foundation and put in the best 
condition to run. 
2. In regard to the lighting plant 
operated by windmill, there are a great 
number of factors working against suc¬ 
cessful operation due to the extremely 
variable speed of the wind wheel, and 
for the present at least I would rather 
pin m.v faith to a gasoline or water driven 
plant, which does not have these difficul¬ 
ties to overcome, and, furthermore, has 
been a much longer time in development. 
Paint Peels Off 
I have a house to paint that has been 
painted three times, and each time the 
paint peels off almost as soon as it is 
put on. Is there not some way to pre¬ 
vent this, ns I desire to paint again, and 
do not wish to have the same experience? 
The house is frame, pine, and is located 
in the village, ami is no more exposed to 
sun and wind than any other housp. 
Williamson. N. Y. o. W. J. 
Nothing definite can lie told you without 
knowing more about the conditions "under 
which house was painted. Applying too 
thick a coat of some of the prepared 
paints will result in cracking and peel¬ 
ing. as the material from which the paint 
is made produces a hard enamel-like sur¬ 
face when dry. which in not clastic, and 
which must therefore crack when there 
is any change in size, as there is hi mid 
to be, due to expansion of the wood and 
paint coat from heat or contraction from 
cold. Also the color has something to do 
with the durability. An experienced 
painter tolls me that a dark red or green 
house is more subject to cracking and 
peeling than the other colors. 
Another frequent cause of this trouble 
is the use of a poor priming coat. Yellow 
ochre is frequently mixed up with a 
cheap oil and used for a priming coat, a 
better grade of paint being used to finish 
the work. This is all wrong. The prim¬ 
ing coat is the most essential of any. It 
serves as mu anchor to which the suc¬ 
ceeding coats are fastened, and unless it 
penetrates Ihe wood well, has “suction.” 
as it is termed, and makes a good union 
with the succeeding coats, it does not fill 
its purpose, and a short-lived job is the 
result, although it may look well when 
firs^ finished. 
I would suggest using a thin priming 
coat of white lead and linseed oil to which 
a considerable amount of turpentine has 
been added, the idea being to get a primer 
that will penetrate the wood and get a 
good hold. The second coat should have 
some turpentine as well to give a matted 
surface upon which the third coat is 
spread. If the old paint remains it 
should be scraped and burned off, secur¬ 
ing a clean surface. In many cases it is 
nearly as cheap to reside the building. 
Use a white lead paint as a base and tint 
it to the color desired with the various 
pigments that can he obtained ground in 
oil. Correspondence with any of the 
while lead companies will give you help 
about mixing. 
Cracks in Wall; Leaking Cistern 
1. How may I repair cracks in wall 
from edges of which old paint keeps scal¬ 
ing off, leaving the lime exposed so it 
falls like powder on the wainscoting? I 
wish to paint this wall. 2. Brick and 
cement cisteru leaks around base. When 
full, as soon as water drops iy 2 ft., 
leakage ceases. I thought to apply coat 
of cement on inside. Will this adhere to 
old cement satisfactorily? A. C. D- 
1. Presumably the wall to which you 
refer is plastered, and if so. there will he 
considerable difficulty in making anything 
like a permanent repair. The cracking 
is no doubt due, in the first place, either 
to settling of the building or wind rack¬ 
ing, or a combination of both. If so, 
these causes probably still exist, and any 
repair that you may make will be likely 
to open again, as it will be the weakest 
part and the point where the greatest 
stress occurs, as shown by its previous 
breaking. A temporary repair can he 
made by the use of plaster of Paris. This 
is a white powder that can be bought for 
a few rents per pound, and when mixed 
with water makes a white putty-like 
material that quickly sets or hardens. 
Because of this quick-setting quality mix 
but a small quantity at a time and work 
it into the cracks, which have been pre¬ 
viously wetted and the dust removed, 
with a putty knife. If a cold water 
paint is to be used for the decorating, 
the dry powder can be mixed with the 
material used to fill the cracks, giving it 
the proper rint. Beautiful effects can he 
produced with these water paints, which 
are very easy to apply, and before paint¬ 
ing I would suggest that you send for 
their color cards and booklets on homo 
decoration. 
2. In applying cement plaster to inside 
of the old cistern first clean the walls 
thoroughly, using plenty of water and 
stiff wire brushes. Sometimes dilute hy¬ 
drochloric acid is used as an aid in clean¬ 
ing. and when this is done care must be 
taken to see that this is well washed off' 
before the new cement mortar is applied. 
After the wall is thoroughly loaned 
make a neat cement paste of about the 
consistency of brick mortar and apply to 
the wall to a thickness of about i/if! 
ia., the wall previously being well wet 
down, and then immediately apply the 
new plaster coat, using a mortar mixed 
in the proportions of 1 :1 or 1:2. 
Rusty Iron Pipe 
I have a great deal of trouble with my 
water supply, which comes from a large 
spring about 50 rods from my buildings, 
with approximately 80 ft. fall. The pipe 
is 1-in. galvanized iron, and has been in 
12 years. During that time it has been 
taken up and cleaned of rust and sedi¬ 
ment. twice, and it is full again now. It 
wilt not stand cleaning again, because it 
is so badly rusted that there are holes in 
a number of places. Is there any kind 
of pipe made, aside from lead, or cheaper 
than lead, that I could use that would 
resist rust? Would there be any dan¬ 
ger of poisoning if lead pipe were used? 
Is there a wooden pipe manufactured 
that could be used economically for this 
purpose? ‘ c. s. 
Destruction of pipe by rust or cor¬ 
rosion seems to give more trouble in some 
localities than in others. This is no doubt 
due to some condition of soil or water 
that acts on the galvanized coating of 
the pipe, destroying it. The cause of de¬ 
struction is not definitely known, as the 
life does not seem to lie at all uniform. 
Perhaps the quality of the pipe when first 
installed has nmething to do with it. 
The use of lead pipe for carrying drink¬ 
ing water is not advised. With water 
flowing constantly, as from a spring, 
there is probably little danger from poi¬ 
soning and. in fact, there is lead pipe 
being used in this way today. These are 
generally old installations, however, as 
the cost at present makes it too expensive 
for ibis work. The danger is there, how¬ 
ever, and for that reason the use of other 
pipe is advised for the purpose at hand 
Very good results have been obtained 
from the use of wood pipe. A case in 
point D the item appearing in a recent 
K N.-Y. This wood pipe is frequently 
used in tanneries and similar places 
where other pipe made of metal would 
not stand. Wood pipe had quite a boom 
during the period of high-priced galvan¬ 
ized pipe. It is likely that this would 
meet your needs and make you a more 
permanent job than the iron .pipe that 
you have been using. 
Ton will find in Postum 
a delightful and satisfying mealtime 
beverage, with no element which can 
harm nerves and digestion—or cause 
wakeful nights and dull days. 
Your grocer has Postum in two forms: 
Instant Postum (in tins) made instantly 
in the cup by the addition of boiling 
water. Postum Cereal (in packages of 
larger bulk, for those who prefer to 
make the drink while the meal is being 
prepared) made by boiling for fully 20 
minutes. 
Made by 
Postum Cereal Co., Inc., Battle Creek, Mich. 
FARQUHAR DIGS POTATOES 
The “Success Junior” plow leads for fast clean 
digging and lone life. “Farquhar Xo. 1” is the 
original rigid tongue Elevator Digger, a sure 
winner on iour or more acres. Also “Special 
Elevator," a ball-bearing equipped Digger for 
cither horse or engine drive. Farquhar Diggers 
are the result of many years’ field experience. 
Write for catalogue giving illustrated descriptions. 
A. B. Farquhar Co., Ltd. Box 230, York, Pa. 
Also Engines—Sawmills—T hreshers, Etc „ 
». — ■ ■ ■ _ 
SAVE HALF Your 
Paint Bills 
BY USING Ingersoll Paint. 
PROVED BEST by SO years’ use. It 
will please you. The ONLY PAINT en¬ 
dorsed by the “GRANGE" for 47 years. 
Made in all colors—for all purposes. 
Get my FREE DELIVERY offer. 
From Factory Direct to You at Wholesale Prices. 
INGERSOLL PAINT BOOK-FREE 
Telia Ml about Paint and Painting for Durability. Valu¬ 
able Information KHER TO YOU with Sample Cards 
Writ* me. P>> (T NOW. 1 WIU, SAVE YOl MONEY 
Oldest Ready Mixed Paint Hon*, in ^nerlea—Eetab. 1343 
0. W. Ingersoll, 246 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N. V. 
Waterproof Canvas Cows K C KSS 
r size* proportionate price. 
Write for sample. WW STANLEY, 50 Church St , N Y.C. 
CIDER Making Pays 
With Mt Gilead Hydraulic Cider Presses 
Big Money made on small Investment. 
Demand for cider greater than ever. 
Quick, clean profits with little labor 
and expense. 3Lr«Up to 460 bblfl. 
daily. Hand Peer Pr-uei 
for Cider. Grape Juice, Fruits, etc., 
and a full line of occeMCriee. 
euoh as juice evaporators, 
pasteurizers, eto. New Cider 
Press catalog gives full details. 
HYDRAULIC PRESS MFG. CO. 
137 Lincoln Art. Mount Gilead, Ohio 
HAY CAPS 
Stack; implement, wagon and farm cov¬ 
ers, Water prom or plain canvas. Plant- 
bed cloth; waterproof sheering; canvas 
goods, tents, etc. 
HENRY DERBY 
453 St. Paula Ave. Jersey City, N. J. 
money on barm Truck or K oaa 
Wagons, also 6teel or wood wheels to fit 
any running 
Steal. Send for 
it today, 
Electric Whesl Co. 
43 Qo SI.,Qmncj 
A jv.hL MiKK tDOMOU tN IIOI R, SELL M EN PETS 
HiClllS a P atent patch for instantly mending leaks 
® in ail u t e 11 s i 1 s. Sample p a c k ag e free 
COLI-ETTE MFD. CO.,D*iit. 103 , Amsterdam, S.Y. 
pPBr 
The Farmer His 
Own Builder 
By H. .Armstrong Robert? 
A practical and 
haudy book of all 
kinds of building 
information from 
concrete to carpen¬ 
try. Price $1.5(L_ 
For sale by 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER 
333 W. 30th St.. N. V. 
