HINTS FOR THE FARM

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3822, 16 October 1936, Page 5

HINTS FOR THE FARM

Storing Tools. A recommended method for keeping both machinery and tools in perfect condition during iong periods of disuse is to cover them with beeswax disolved in benzol. The benzol evaporates and leaves the steel or iron covered with a thin coating of wax. This is a better method than the application of paint in that mould boards, shovels and hoes remain polished and ready for instant work, while the tools covered with paint have the effect of making the soil adhere. The beeswax coating is equally effective in cold and hot weather, but as benzol is highly inflammable it should be kept in a tightly-corked bottle and away from exposure to light. Where small tools, such as spanners, bits and pliers are given this protective treatment, the most practicable method is to dip them in boiled linseed oil and let the oil dry on them, or the tools may be warmed and then smeared with white beeswax, after which they should be heated again, to permit the wax to spread itself evenly over their surface.

A Good Turf Cutter.—-An old hay knife when worn short is a very good tool for the turf or sward on the top of trench or drain. Put the line down in the usual way. This tool does the work quicker than a spade and the sides of the drain are cut more evenly than with a spade. Spray as Bellows. - When a hand spray is broken so that it cannot be used for creosote or spraying other liquids, it will be found very useful as a fire-bellows. A Ladder Device. We find that an old bucket filled with stones, and put at the bottom of the ladder, between the staves, when thatching a stack, a sure way of preventing the ladder slipping. Sawing Horse from Wheel Hubs.—• Cut out all spokes from two old cart wheels with the exception of two at the bottom and two at the top. Secure hubs together by means of a wooden spindle and wedges to tighten. The two bottom spokes of each hub will make the stand and the two top spokes of each hub will hold tire log in place.

Ditch Level at a Glance. When ditching, one cannot always keep an even fall with a spirit level and board, arid it is much easier if one joins two 4-foot lengths of wood at right angles. Make a saw cut at the end of the upright piece and attach a piece of string with a nut suspended from it. When the bottom piece is resting on the bed of the ditch the distance the string hangs from the middle gives the fall for the 4-ft. If it is placed in at first you can tell how much bottom has got to be removed, saving labour and guessing. Home-made Loft Pulley.—A disused bicycle will provide all the essential materials for a useful loft pulley. Pull out the front fork with the wheel in place. Remove the tyre to allow the hauling rope to run round in the groove of the wheel. Next, fix the pulley over the loft door or window. The actual fixing of the pulley will depend chiefly on the type of door frame or window frame. If there should be a stout beam directly above these the fork-pillar can be securely fastened by means of strong, large staples to this. Fixing through a wall will require a few bricks being removed, the pillar pushed through and fastened on the inner side and the hole filled with bricks and cement.

A Bailing Hint. Dipping water from a tank with a pail is much quicker and easier if a hole is bored in ?he handle and the bottom rim and the ends of the rope secured in the holes. Then by pulling the bottom end up in the water you are always sure of a full bucket.