CARE AND USE OF FARM IMPLEMENTS.

BY J. E. CARR.

While a member of the New Hampshire Legislature, in 1878, the question of equalization of taxation came before that body for consideration. At the previous session a committee consisting of Solon A. Carter, of Keene, N. G. Ordway, of Warner, O. C. Moore, of Nashua, W. H. Cummings, of Lisbon, and W. H. H. Mason, of Moultonborough, had been appointed to consider the subject and report at the next session. As the result of that report several bills were introduced which were intended to carry out the principle embraced therein, and some of them were exceedingly antagonistic to the railroad corporations of the State, even providing for the taxation of all railroad property, including their franchise and the bonds representing their debt. While investigating the subject somewhat thoroughly that I might intelligently act upon the question when the proper time came, I prepared a list of the tools or implements required on a five-thousand-dollar farm, then, as now, exempt from taxation. This prompted me to ask the question to myself, as well as to others, Is it impartial or right to exempt so much of my property from taxation and tax railroads as above mentioned? The answer was invariably no. Ladies and gentlemen, if you will make a schedule of all the implements used, in the house and out, on your farm, and mark the cost price of the same, and not be surprised at the result, you will have shown better judgment in the business than I, for I was utterly astounded at the account exhibited. This, in connection with the fact that our cattle and horses under eighteen months old,

two hogs, and all the poultry were exempt from taxation, was the reason for my subsequent action against those measures, and caused some of my constituents to meet me with the affirmation that I had been bought with a pass, which of course was very pleasant, but I was in the position of the boy with sick headache, when his little brother came in from play and said, "Jim, how's your head?" Jim said "It's awful bad," when the little brother said, "Never mind Jim, bear and grin it, bear and grin it, it will feel better by and by."

In relation to the subject assigned me, we will commence by inquiring what tools are necessary on a good farm of the abovenamed value, managed by a live farmer who calculates to keep ahead of, or at least abreast with, the times. Undoubtedly all will admit that he must have a plow, as the land must be broken before crops can be produced. The selection of the plow may be made from several different kinds, and the choice should be governed by the character of the soil to be plowed. If the land is smooth and free from rocks and stumps, by all means select a sulky plow, of which there are several patents well worth a trial. If there are obstructions to contend with, making the use of a sulky plow impracticable, a swivel plow should be selected. This is the most useful plow, as it can be used for either side-hill or flat land plowing. A manure spreader will be needed for applying manure in the most satisfactory manner. Probably all will admit that a harrow is necessary with which to pulverize the soil and thoroughly mix the manure. In my opinion no land is worth cultivating that is not cultivated (at least the first time after plowing) with a disk or wheel harrow, so constructed that the attendant may ride, or go on foot when tired of riding. This should be followed with a smoothing harrow, of which there are several kinds of great utility.

If the field is to be planted with corn, he must have a cornplanter, and there are a variety of these machines, some of which it will be well to examine thoroughly before purchasing. When corn has been put in with a planter that leaves the seed two or three inches below the surface of the ground, I find, by the experience of past seasons, that a smoothing harrow may be used with impunity to kill weeds and grass, and to keep the surface of

the soil finely pulverized for the absorption of heat and moisture, two very essential elements in the growth of corn. This method of cultivation may be continued until the corn is eight or ten inches in height. There will also be needed a good cultivator with which to cultivate between the rows several times after the corn is too large to admit of the use of the smoothing harrow. In wet seasons it is necessary to run the cultivator more frequently for killing weeds than in dry weather, and it is generally admitted that we do not stir the ground as frequently as would be profitable for the growth of the corn in dry seasons, when there are comparatively no weeds to destroy. The weeds do not grow as fast, and we entertain the old idea that corn not weedy needs no hoeing.

If the land is to be sown with small grain, a seeder will be needed, and there are a variety of machines for this purpose. If considerable sowing is to be done, a two-horse seeder with harrow attachment is undoubtedly preferable, as double the work can be done in the same time, and in the hurry of seedtime this is an important item. After using the smoothing harrow the land is ready for the roller, which no good farmer will be without.

This takes us to the haying season, and without the use of the improved haying implements now in the market the farmer will find it an expensive undertaking to secure the hay crop at the present price of farm labor in the haying season. A mowingmachine is necessary, of which there are about as many different styles as of pocket knives. Also will be needed a hay tedder, horse rake, horse pitchfork, substantial carts, light, strong forks, a limited number of hand rakes and hand scythes, with which to trim around the fences, field corners, and such places as the mowing-machine cannot be worked.

As we come to the harvest season let us see what will be needed then. First in importance is the self-binder and reaper, which will put as much grain in the bundle ready for stooking as the horses are capable of cutting, or from six to ten acres per day. A threshing-machine, whose motive power may be that of horse or steam, is a labor-saving machine and of great utility. The power may be utilized for other purposes, such as sawing wood, churning, turning grindstone, grinding apples, pumping

water for stock, shelling corn, and grinding grain with a power sheller and portable grist-mill. In fact, it can be put to more uses than we have time to mention. Potato-digging machines of more or less utility are in the market, and one will be needed. If dairying is practiced, the various dairy implements in use at the present time will be needed. On such a farm as we have in mind thirty or forty cows ought to be kept, and how would the farmer succeed in churning in the old-fashioned dash churn, or the good housewife in setting the milk in the small tin pans? What success would be met in working the butter by hand, the performance sounding like the report of the concussion produced by maternal hands while inflicting corporal punishment on misguided and rebellious youth? Methinks there would be on the part of the farmer some profanity, and on the part of the wife such rattling of tin pans as would suggest an energy not born of meekness, but of justifiable rebellion at the manner in which she was required to perform her daily labor. As well might they cultivate the farm with the tools used in the pod-auger, wooden plow, and iron-bound shovel times as to try to make firstclass butter under such circumstances. There are several kinds of creameries, one of which will need to be purchased, a churn of late manufacture, and a butter worker of improved pattern. If a co-operative creamery is in operation in the immediate vicinity, perhaps it will be better in most instances to become a patron, in which case a portion of the dairy implements will be unnecessary. There will also be needed a market wagon in which to market produce, harnesses for horses, yokes for oxen, shovels, manure forks, garden tools, grindstones, chains, whiffletrees, and sleds and sleighs for winter use. Axes and carpenter tools with which to make repairs, a winnowing mill and sieves for cleaning grain, will find a needed place.

Are we not making quite a list? The cost of the entire lot would astonish you, I think, as it did myself when studying this subject for a different purpose. We have not completed the list yet, and only arrived at the place where the housewife's needs come in. What does she require if she is a live woman and desires to keep her house in proper order, her work properly done, not retiring to her bed at night with the feeling that she

has dragged through the day, as she did yesterday and will tomorrow, a continuous monotony of wearing labor, performed in the old-fashioned way? She will need a good sewing-machine, which is as important in the house as the mowing-machine on the farm; a good, convenient cook-stove or range and dry wood to burn in it; a clothes-wringer, tubs, and convenient room therefor; good dishes in abundance, and many little utensils which amount to quite a sum in the aggregate. An organ or piano is desirable, from which the matron of the house, her family or friends, will derive inestimable comfort. The furniture throughout the house should be substantial and attractive in appearance.

The cost of the farm implements calculated as closely as I am able to, and I think approximately correct at the present market price, will be $1,872, or in round numbers about $2,000. Add to this the cost of furnishing the pleasant home of the prosperous farmer, which will not vary much from $1,000, and we have $3,000, or more than one half the cost of buildings and land. This is not an overdrawn picture unless we deny ourselves and family the convenience and comfort to be derived from the use of improved implements. Perhaps all of us not yet employ all the implements herein named, yet every one will admit their importance in the economy of labor, and the time has come when we must figure closely in this respect. Perhaps some are inclined to think they cannot make as much money as before these implements came into use. How are we to compete with the Western farmer without them, and they certainly are a necessity to the cultivation of the large areas of the West? We must put our farms in condition to use improved implements as readily as they. We were taught in hoeing corn to remove all the dirt between the stalks with the fingers and replace it with fresh dirt. Many other farm operations were equally laborious and slow. Instead of wishing the old times renewed I feel like being thankful to Divine Providence for giving men wisdom to invent such labor-saving implements for our use, comfort, and convenience. I have no desire to return to the old manner and methods of farming.

A word in regard to the care of farm implements. As by our