FARM IMPLEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 8

FARM IMPLEMENTS.

A REMINDER TO THE CARELESS.

The first essential before purchasing a modern implement is to provide a house or shed for its storage when not in uso. Such is tho reasoning of Mr. Primrose M'Connell in an article on farm, implements published in the "Journal of the Department of Agriculture."

Tho annual loss incurred by allowing valuable implements to stand out of doors in all Weathers is, tho writer points out, enormous. A well-cared-t'or implement may be in good working condition at tho end of twenty years, whereas ft bailly-cared-for one is a wreck at the end of five.

Tho next essential is tho caro of implements whilo working. Many of tho pre-sent-day farm hands, and many farmers ns well, are under the impression that if they can drive an implement round a paddock without upsetting it they are "fulfilling tho wliolo law and the prophets," forgetting that tho efficiency of a machine, to a great extent, depends 011 proper adjustment, clean, well-oiled bearings, driv-ing-chains at right tension, the renewal of worn parts, tightening of loose nuts— in fact, the hand in charge of the modern implement needs to bo a sharp man, and one who takes an interest in his work. Many implements have been condemned through 110 fault of the machine itself, but through the gross carelessness and inefficiency of the man in charge. The proper time to overhaul and repair a farm implement is immediately its work l'ov the season is done. The common plan is to send tho machine to the repairer a few days l)efore it is to be used, with the result that tho work for which it. is urgently required is delayed, and such delays often cause irreparable loss and endless worry If at the end of the season a machine docs not require any repairs except what the farmer can carry out himself, it should bo thoroughly cleaned and oiled, and immediately put under cover. If requiring repairs that can only bo effected by a skilled workman, and circumstances render its immediate dispatch to the workshop impossible, a note should be taken of the defects, otherwise they are very apt to he overlooked. Painting should be seen to, if required, and this work can be done on wet days. Fortunately the working parts of machinery can now be replaced, and in most cases a telegram giving a number is all that is necessary. Jlr. M'Connell also deals with the British as against the American-made machines.