THE FARM FORGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5918, 13 February 1880, Page 6

THE FARM FORGE.

{American Paper.) The practical work, of the farm is so often ( delayed by breakages or needed changes which necessity e waiting long enough to take a trip to the blacksmith, that we hare noticed with pleasure that farmers often hare a forge, anvil and pile of old iron under some shed, so as to make their own repairs in such cases. There is often work, of course, which only a skilled craftsman can do, but almost any able-bodied farmer who will watch a blacksmith’s methods for a few limes will soon find out how to make a simple weld without burnin g his iron, and that accomplishment will make a host of minor operations possible. The trade is one of such universal use, that hardly a dozen farm labourers can be found one of whom does not know a little about it, and first-rate workmen often turn up most unexpectedly. Many of our large farmers have a smithy and a professional workman as one of their primal necessities. Besides the stables and machinery sheds, there will be the smoky forge and the black piles of iron, and all day, while the teams are in the field, the merry clang of the hammer, the pro-historic anvil music, rings out sharply. But it is not tp be expected that large farmers will employ their,own blacksmiths. All we urge now is that wherever a small farmer finds that there is delay and extra expense in stopping his work to go to the smithy, he should make a few cheap experiments in that line. If there are boys growing up, the forge may attract some of them; and each one may acquire some degree of skill in the trade. Never mind the worn out, easily given appellation of " Jack-of-all-trades.” We have noticed that to be able to do something with a great many things very often means versatility and original force of character. To pretend to know all about a trade when you have only a glimmering is very foolish. But to do quietly, without any fuss, the simpler, necessary operations of this, or any other trade—operations, too, which only require a quick hand —ought to be a part of every man’s practical, world-living education.