: 
and oftentimes split handle, and loose at that! Now, what does this all at 
350 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1900. 
think, as I go about the country, of the need which undoubtedly exists for the 
exercise of an intelligent saving care on the part of fruitgrowers and fare . 
the implements they use in their work. Right here occurs a very important pom 
of possible loss or possible saving—one of the many things which go fat l ; 
make the tiller of the soil better off or worse off inthe end. One cannot he 
feeling all possible sympathy for those who settle on the land, when 
understands what is involved of hard graft, constant perseverance, ane 
waiting for developments, frequent uncertainty as to results owing @ 
untoward seasons, with now and then absolute loss; and further, even W2® 
things get into shape and go right, the everlasting battle with innumera s 
enemies of various kinds, hat 
Sympathy! Yes; because the man on the soil runs risks frequently t |} 
are very real, and I think he deserves every possible success, and 1 am alway> | 
pleased when I see him succeeding. But the intelligent cultivator will ? 
always on the lookout for means to reduce his risks or losses, and add to BD | 
profits, and my idea now is to show a good many how they can do this by taki™s | 
more care of the farm and orchard implements than is usually done. fan 
More waste and loss occur in Queensland annually by neglect f 
implements and machinery than many people would feel inclined to beliey® 
The majority of our settlers would not believe it if the thing were put 
figures showing the value of such loss. But the loss occurs, nevertheless, 
is going on at this moment. . 
I can sympathise with a farmer when a drought prevents him getting ay 
crops, or a big frost cuts his wheat all to pieces, because he is losing, a0! 
knows it and I know it. d 
But what are we to say when the same farmer has a valuable reaper 2" 
binder standing out in all weathers for months together ; or mowing machin 7 
and cultivators acting as henroosts with only one possible result; or plow. d | 
harrows, &c., left about the farm where they were used last? He’s losing #™ 
does not seem to know it, but he will find out. ita 
T can understand a fruitgrower complaining of his loss through fruit fly, 
scale pests, flying foxes, birds, &c., because it is a loss and he knows it; }U 
isn’t it rather funny to find a man who works hard against these things to 4” fae 
loss, and who will fight his sawmiller over the price of cases, and argue W! an 
his storekeeper about the price of the very nails he uses to put these cas® = 
together, leaving Planet Juniors, ploughs, disc-harrows, hoes, spades, forks, ge 
out in all weathers month after month, being satisfied to fling them under 
orange-tree or lean them up against,the fence ? 4 
What is the result ? He loses, only he doesn’t seem to see it. He ore 
afford to lose a shilling or two on nails or cases, but he will let ten or fifte? 
pounds’ worth of tools go to ruin! This sort of thing is going on all over <i 
country. Go to some places, and if you want an axe to cut a stick with YO 
are introduced to a rusty-headed affair with doubtful edge, and weather-beate 
’ 
To my mind it means that there is dreadful want of thought somewhere- : 
does not pay people to allow this sort of thing to go on. Not alone is thet 
the actual loss through deterioration, but there is the discomfort of workir 
with tools and implements all out of order. Fancy trying to work WY, — 
implements whose joints are all loose, woodwork dried wp and splitting, 
ironwork all plugged up with rust. at 
How nice to go out to work with things that you know will be out of g 
all day long! = 
What pleasure it is to go round hunting things up, and putting thing® 
together, and find this wants fixing, or that wants mending, or something © 
has gone altogether! I’ve no sympathy for the man who mismanages things 
this fashion, and he does not deserve much. 
Now, my advice is—put up a shelter, as good as you can afford, but pul i 
one of some sort right away for your implements and tools, and see 
everything is kept there when not in actual use. Follow this up, and encout 
your boys and girls to do likewise, as well as your employees if you have avy: 
