"It is well known that, in most parts of New Mistakes are often made in charring posts while England, stone wall is the prevailing style of fence, in a green state. This is supposed to render the both on the highway and for dividing lots; and post less durable than though it were not charred in all that region with which we are well acquainted, we have never known a farmer who did not at all. The wood being full of sap, the charring prefer stone to any other material for this pur- prevents it from passing off, and the centre of the post decays, while the outside shell remains sound; "To secure durability, the foundation should but the post is so weakened as to become useless. be placed below the action of frost, and the pose. whole should be laid by a skilful man, so as to "Many experiments go to prove that the small er end of timber should be set downward. The secure to the greatest extent the aid of gravitation and friction in resisting all violence from either rationale of this is rather hypothesis than physioside. When thus laid, this fence is a good secu-logical demonstration, since we know of nothing which has been actually discovered, which implies rity against domestic animals of all sizes. "But sometimes stones are scarce, and timber an upper or under side to the circulating vessels is very cheap, while labor may also be expensive. which compose the wood. The tubes and cells So it often is where pine barrens or other forests present similar appearances at each extremity, abound. There is also a great difference in the though their form or shape, tapering or otherwise, amount of defence, so to speak, which is required. may have an important bearing on this phenomeSometimes, it is chiefly, a mere landmark to point 99 non. out a highway, and some of the oldest parts of We consider the facts of more value to us at presNew England furnish evidence that even this is ent than to understand their rationality—though unnecessary. The path beaten by the hoofs of to understand the causes of things is pleasant. horses or oxen, and worn by the friction of wheels, The evidence which may be adduced to show that is the only index of the existence of a road, while nothing but a marked tree or a post or stone, in- posts set with their small end down, last longer dicate a plurality of owners of the soil. Such re-than they will with the large end down, is of too gions of country, however, furnish no occasions high a character to be lightly rejected. In Vol. for the application of any general rules on this 5, of the Farmer, page 208, Mr. J. DAVIES, of subject.' East Barnard, Vt., states that in 1838 he took a On the minds of those who have made and used stick 14 feet long and cut it in the middle, setdifferent kinds of fences, there will be little or ting the butt of one up, and the other down, 12 no doubt that where stones are near at hand, they feet apart. In five years, the one with the butt make a cheaper fence than any other material; down rotted off, and the other stands sound yet. and yet there are many farmers in New England, A writer in the Hartford Times and two writers where the fields, directly about the buildings, are in the Germantown Telegraph, made experiments enclosed with wooden fences which must be thor-and confirm the statement of Mr. Davis. oughly made over, perhaps as often as every 10 Mr. OTIS BRIGHAM, of Westboro', Mass., page or 15 years, and which must be repaired every 256, same volume, says that the result of 40 years' year. This is done, too, to enclose fields abound- experience with him, is, that common fence posts ing with rocks, over which the teams are stumb-set in the ground green, and butt end downwards, ling and the plows and rakes are constantly being will last, in a sandy loam, about 10 or 12 years. broken. The same set in a like situation, inverted, will 2. "As to wooden fences, cedar, no doubt, is last 15 or 18 years. the most durable of all woods, and where it is abundant, so as to be cheap, it should be pre-rious styles of farm fence, as some of our cotempo"We might give an estimate of the cost of vaferred, especially for posts. raries have done on kindred topics, but no one Chestnut posts, properly set, will last from 25 would perhaps be a safe basis of calculation, for to 50 years; and as this wood is found in many subject here, giving in a tabular form the items one hundred miles square. Hence we leave the locations where cedar does not grow, it may be which each man must estimate for himself. These considered as the most durable next to the cedar will vary, of course, with the season of the year, and locust. even on any given territory and for the same job. These items embrace the following: 1. Cost of material, and of preparing it. 2. Cost of transporting to the spot. whether a wall or posts and rails. 3. Preparing the ground for the superstructure, "All woods are made more durable by being charred before they are set in the ground. Decay or decomposition is a chemical process which requires the presence of certain elements which, in charcoal, are essentially wanting. Charcoal, 4. Cost and amount of labor to be employed. we suppose, is never chemically decomposed by ex5. Value of land affected by the fence, whether posure to the air or water. It may crumble. It by occupying space or by causing shade. may be attacked in certain situations by elements "As to the age of timber and the season of the not generally encountered. It may absorb moisture, so as to be broken by frosts, and the like; est durability,-young or at least sound timber year when it should be cut, to secure the greatbut still charring well pays its way, when timbers should be selected, and the spring or early sumare to be set in the ground. But they should not be charred so extensively as to weaken mate- latest growth will then have become somewhat mer is probably the best time for cutting it. The rially their strength.' hardened, and the condition of the sap at that time is said to be favorable to their remaining In many, perhaps most cases, the condition of sound for a long time. We do not attach much the horse and of his less intelligent neighbors, the importance however to the hypothesis. cow and the ox, has gained equally. But the exMen who take no Mr. EMERSON, in his very valuable report on the ceptions are far too numerous. agricultural papers, who have no inborn taste for Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts, seems to be improvement, are frequently content to do as their of the opinion that autumn is the best time for fathers did. Hence, cattle exposed to the frost and cutting timber; this opinion was sustained by in-storm of winter, with little shelter, perhaps with formation from many valuable resources. We none; and horses are allowed-tell it not where should think the spring, when the tree is full of slaves have as their only food a scanty allowance sap would be the worst time for cutting. of corn bread!-to feast themselves on a northern hill-side in the open field, day and night upon a "Wire fences are not generally approved, so stock of withered grass! It would not pay to envy far as our observation extends." When wires the feelings of men who can permit such practices. are stretched across a cheap frame, they may be The sight may furnish an argument to show that very convenient for enclosing temporarily a small self-interest is not sufficient to insure kind treatplot of ground, but for a permanent fence they ment to chattels of two or four feet, and that will not pay; If they are used, they should be slave-holders are as kind-hearted as their northern confined in their place by passing through substan- brethren; but how can it minister to the comfort tial wooden posts, sufficiently near each other to of a Christian man in a winter's night to reflect attract the notice of animals. For one objection that his cattle or horses-however young they may to them is, that cattle do not see them, and hence be-are exposed to its rigors, how he can rest quithey are exposed to a degree of violence, even from etly or be cheerful at home or abroad, while his quiet animals, which will severely try their half-starved horses are shivering with cold, may strength. Live posts, earthen or burnt clay posts well excite surprise in a truly benevolent mind. and the like, we regard as ingenious, rather than Among semi-barbarians, with their rough, coarse practically useful. They may sometimes answer natures, among men who delight in war, it might well, but not as a general practice." be expected that their horses would be cruelly If the writer has had experience in the erection treated, as they are; but among Christians in New and use of wire fences, we should be surprised at England such sights are not to be expected, and ought not to be witnessed. In some cities, perhis conclusions. We believe wire fences may be haps in most, the law protects the horse from the more cheaply constructed than any other, and open and excessive violence of his master, for the will be found as durable and efficient as any, a sight and sound are revolting to the finer feelings stone wall excepted. The difficulty has been in of humanity, and tend to debase and brutalize straitening the wires. This process is simple and those who witness it, to say nothing of its effect on the passionate and cruel driver. easy when one knows how. A small roller of wood, But against a process which kills domestic aniand two iron pins 18 inches in length each, will mals by inches-against a system of freezing and help to overcome every difficulty. The whole pro-starvation which tortures the horse, and blunts cess is described in former numbers of the Farmer. the finer and nobler system of him who practices "A fence, the lower half of which is stone, and not protect the poor brutes, nor those whose proxor allows it, the law can raise no barrier. It canthe upper half rails or wires, may serve a very imity to such a person makes them involuntary good purpose, and where stone is scarce, it may witnesses of his cruel neglect. Much as their kind be the best form of fence. "But, whatever style is adopted, let the materi-do littie more than remonstrance and protest feelings are outraged by such conduct, they can rials be of good quality, and the work be done against it. It may be possible, however, through skilfully. Sham fences are among the most ex- The Examiner and other agricultural papers, to pensive forms in which a lack of practical skill diffuse information respecting both the cruelty and in farming operations is often exhibited. HORSES FROZEN OR STARVED. When the country was new, and rude farmhouses with rattling windows, uneven floors, warped clapboards and open fire-places were the best habitations that could be procured; when the drifting snow found its way through windows and doors even to the bed chamber, when the clothing of the people was scant and thin, it was hardly to be expected that horses should be privileged with warm stables or covered with thick blankets. Necessity knows few laws, and the poor man's horse suffers accordingly. the expensiveness of such an exposure and neglect of horses and cattle, till intelligent men would as soon ride "bareback," without bridles, build barns without roofs, and attempt to fatten hogs fon dish-water, as to keep stock without providing well cured hay, &c,, or without covering the horses warm, dry, well-ventilated stables, abundance of when it is necessary for them to stand long in the taste and good morals, unite in requiring the open air in a cold winter's day. Economy, good change of the old system for the new.-Norwich (Ct.) Examiner. FAT CATTLE.-Seth Bush, Esq., of this town, But times have changed. Thrifty people of New talked up" as follows:-1st pair 4800; 2d do. weighed, on Monday last, six pairs of oxen which England are able to procure houses impervious to 4200; 3d do, 4100 4th do. 4090; 5th do. 3810; wind and snow, and clothing that makes our cold-6th do. 3600. Such beef would be a rare commodest days quite tolerable to healthy people. They ity any where else, but here our farmers make possess also means of warming their houses, which nothing of "building" cattle a little less in size makes them most delightful as the sweeping blasts than the ancient Beĥometh.--Westfield New Letof winter grow more intense. ter. MODERN SUFFOLK STALLION. horse of MR. CATLIN, (portrayed at the head of The best breed of horses for the farm and the this article,) is a good representation of the breed, and is doubtless the best farm horse in great Briroad-for cultivating the soil and taking its pro-tain, as to him was awarded the first prize of $150, ducts to market-for general farm purposes-is a at the great Windsor Show in 1851. These horses subject of great interest to very many of our are by no means plentiful, and if well bred, comreaders. For the carriage and light work, this mand high prices. There are, however, in England, as in this country, any quantity of horses that can country can furnish as good and as fast horses as be bought cheap-and are dear at any price.' any other, but for the heavy work on a farm-its breaking up and deep plowing-our common horses For the New England Farmer. lack the strength and bottom, there an essential requisite. This subject has of late attracted con- TO STRAIGHTEN STEERS' HORNS. siderable attention, and a writer in a recent num- FRIEND BROWN:-In reply to a subscriber inquirber the of the Wool Grower and Stock Register has ing how to straighten steers' horns, I give my methan extended article on Farm horses, their points, od. Steam the horn you wish to straighten by &c., from which we extract the following on one of binding on a boiled potato, hot, then take a sharp the favorite breeds of British agriculturists.-Ru-rasp and rasp the horn on the side you wish to straighten; then scrape smooth and thin with a piece of glass, and put on some thin oil, well ral New-Yorker. "In England the Suffolk is considered the best rubbed in a few times, for three or four weeks. breed of horses, adapted for all purposes of mod- I would like to inquire through the Farmer, ern agriculture. At the recent annual show of how to kill white daisys, and what way house the Royal Agricultural Society, this breed carried ashes may be used on a farm to the best advanT. C. BRANCH. off all the prizes, as it did the highest one at the tage. great show at Windsor in 1851. Cornwall, Vt., 1853. The modern Suffolk horse still retains many of the best points of the celebrated 'Suffolk Punch,' REMARKS.-You will find in another part of but his height and size have been increased by this number some remarks on the white daisy. admixture with the Norman and Yorkshire breeds. Wood ashes is valuable on most crops, perhaps He is higher in the withers than the Punch-it is doubtful if this is an improvement-legs lighter all. We have found great benefit to the corn and flatter the sides more rounded, and altogeth-crop by applying a gill to each hill, placed near er a more beautiful and symmetrical animal. The the young plants just before the first hoeing. They are excellent spread broadcast on grass land; so vileged. I have seen the massive Durhams, the are they about apple trees, dug into the soil, and descendants of the far famed Denton of Northbo on any of the garden crops. THE GOOD OLD PLOW. I would render to these all the worship you please. But I'd give far more from my heart's full store, Let them laud the notes that in music float, But dearer to me is the song from the tree, O, these are the sweets which the rustic greets Full many there be that daily we see, Who the plowman's lot, in his humble cot, But I'd rather take a hearty shake, From his hand, than to wealth I bow; For the honest clasp of his hand's rough grasp, All honor be then to these gray old men, Genesee Farmer. rough, moving in the plowing field side by side with the snug built, bright-eyed native ox from Sutton-a little more than half as large-and was constrained to say, that the work was quite as well done by the latter as the former. If you were about to select your man for promptness and expertness of labor, would you take the largest to be found? By no means. I have seen the snug built little man, weighing not over 160 pounds, who would lay on his back the largest lubber that came along. The same rule applies to oxen for labor. MILCH COWS.-Our milch cows, for the making of butter and cheese, the primary object for which they are kept on most farms, are certainly not inferior to any others. In expressing this opinion, I take into view their feed as well as their products. I have seen many cows within thirty years, and the very best I have seen have been native. Such was the opinion of Timothy Pickering and John Lowell, gentlemen of discrimination, observation and high character for intelligence and truth as any others. Not speculators in stock-with no prejudices to conquer, or preferences to reward. That I may not do injustice to these venerable pioneers in improvements, who did more in Massachusetts to awaken public attention to the interests of the farmer than all others, I beg leave to quote a single sentence from a Report submitted by Mr. Lowell, on milch cows, exhibited at the show in Brighton, October, 1822, when Mr. Pickering was associated with him on the committee; and I myself was present, a stripling looking on. Says he: "Although the milch cows of Great Britain and the Netherlands are in general far superior to our own, I have never seen an imported cow with equal MR. PROCTOR'S ADDRESS. merit with some of our own, that have been offered. So fully am I convinced of this truth, as well as We are under obligations to BROOKS SHATTUCK, that our country possesses a very considerable Esq., President of the Hillsborough County, N. H., number of these fine cows, that I am persuaded if Agricultural Society, for a copy of Mr. PROCTOR'S Great Britain or the Netherlands, or all Europe Address, delivered before that Society in Septem- of the best quality there to be found, New Engcombined, were to send us ten cows, selected each ber. We listened to the Address with much grati-land alone would furnish twenty, that would equal fication at that time, and spoke of it through these them in the quantity of milk, butter and cheese, columns, as one that would be remembered. We they would respectively produce.' do not understand Mr. P. as objecting to the in- OBSTACLES IN THE WAY.-Perhaps there are no troduction of foreign stock, or of free experiments greater obstacles in the way of the advance of the in crossing; but rather, that our native cattle have farmer than what arises from the mistaken apnot had a fair trial with others—no one family There are many young men, (of which I confess prehension of the superiority of the employment. having been kept pure, and receiving that careful myself to have been one,) who foolishly seek what attention in feeding which the Short Horns, Devons, Ayrshires and others have had. Two or three paragraphs are given from it below, with the hope of referring to it again. they imagine to be a more elevated and dignified pursuit than the tillage of the ground. They wander from the home of their birth, where contented labor would have insured peace and prosperity, in pursuit of a phantom of the imagination, dazzling WORKING OXEN.-I have witnessed not less than to the eye, but not easily grasped by the hand,— forty plowing matches, with an average of twenty and when the hand is supposed to be upon it, it ox-teams in each; but I do not remember a single not unfrequently is found not to be there. Many a instance where any superiority of power was man-man, after struggling in vain, until he has no ifested in their operations, by the imported over power to struggle longer, looks back upon the less the native cattle. If they possess this power, aspiring companions of his youth, comfortably would it not have been made apparent under such provided on the farms secured by their well directcircumstances? I have know attempts to exclude ed industry, and bemoans his own erratic judgexpert plowmen from holding the plow, but I nev-ment. er knew any attempt to exclude expert oxen from So many instances of the kind have occurred, drawing it; and if I had, I query, whether the that I consider the principle as well established as slow moulded Durhams would have been thus pri-lany other, in political economy. Often, by grasp ing at too much, the whole is lost, as we learn mineral or inorganic substances required by growfrom the dog in the fable. The power of the cul- ing plants. Is this idea courect? Is it not, after tivator is increased by concentrating his operations. all, the real truth of the matter, that the exhaus How otherwise can it be explained, that the cul- tion of our soils consists much more in the organic tivators of vegetables, in the vicinity of dense pop-substances of plants? I think it is so, and that ulations, pay, and can afford to pay, three, four, the remedy is perfectly within the reach of our and five times as much for lands, as those of like farmers, in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred. quality can be procured for, a few miles distant? (a.) A great change in this respect has taken place on There are in New Hampshire, I believe, thous the farms with which I was best acquainted when ands of acres which are regarded as pretty much young. The carrot, the beet, the turnip, the onion, worn out, and which are sufficiently supplied with and various kinds of herbs, now engross the better the mineral or inorganic elements of plants to enpart of the cultivated acres. In fact, other crops dure cropping for hundreds of years, without those are now looked upon as preparatory and subsidiary substances being exhausted. At the same time to these, because these are the most reliable pro- there is not a sufficient supply of the organic conducts of the farm. It is not over-stating to say, stituents of plants to mature one good crop, in the that the net increase per acre, after a liberal al- same soil. I can look in every direction over hunlowance for all contingencies, has been three-fold dreds of acres, where the land presents a like surby the change. Where twenty dollars per acre face, having an active surface-soil of comparative was considered a good return from ordinary farm little thickness, in which the amount of old vegproducts, sixty or more is now realized. And in etable matter is not sufficient, if it could all be instances, not a few, double this sum. soils. For the New England Farmer. BY A. G. COMINGS. prepared at once as food for plants, to sustain one half a decent crop of corn, potatoes or oats. At the same time, the earthy or inorganic elements of plants, those which would remain after the burning of a plant, as ashes, are scattered freely through the entire subsoil, to any depth to The sterility of New England soils is proverbial. which we may descend, even if it were a thousand From every quarter we hear the cry, "Our lands feet. While the thin, surface soil may be in some are exhausted." The subject becomes of great im- measure exhausted of the mineral constituents of portance, when we know that exhaustion has taken plants, (and still more of the organic,) every part place to so great an extent as is indicated in our of the subsoil is as full of those mineral or earthy constituents as an equal amount of the surWe may rush to a hasty conclusion as to what face soil was in its original state. Were it not constitutes the exhaustion of our soils, and spend that those substances in the subsoil are combined, thousands of dollars to effect a remedy, when the frequently, if not generally, with substances which whole amount may be little or no better than are injurious to vegetable growth, and which must thrown away. To avoid this, who will not see the be overcome by the well-directed efforts of the farimportance of understanding wherein the soil is exhausted? It will be said by one that the soil is exhausted of its potash; by another, that the soil has not enough of the constituents of common salt; by many, that there is a great want of lime, or phosphate of lime; and another still may tell us that it consists in something else. mer before the subsoil will become an active agent of good to vegetation, there would be no question but the deepest plowing would in all cases secure best results. Where the subsoil is possessed of injurious substances, it must be brought up in smaller quantities, or the land mnst lie fallow for a length of time; unless some extraordinary apThe chemists of our time offer to settle the plication of neutralizing agents is to be made. question for us, by analysis of soils. If this would Upon land where we are told that the phosphate meet the difficulties of the case in theory, it never of lime is quite exhausted, we see trees growing will in practice. Our uneven lands are so broken rapidly, of the very kinds which show the presence and varied that almost every acre, (I might have of an abundant supply in the soil. The thin, sursaid almost every square rod,) of our ground would face soil is perhaps exhausted of phosphoric acid need a chemical examination. If examinations by and lime; but the kind of trees which grow there the acre might be sufficient, (which certainly may tell to a certainty that there is still an abunwould not be,) even then the cost of the examina-dant supply, tion would be more than the worth of the land Many are led to suppose that the potash is all after it was examined, in most cases. The far- taken out of their soil, and they are procuring mers of New England will never pay the expense large quantities of hard wood ashes to supply the of a chemical examination of their soils, to any lack, while in much of the same land the amount great extent; and to expect a remedy from that of potash which is contained is perfectly measurequarter would be little better than it would for less and inexhaustable. The soil needs working travellers to expect ships and steamboats to fly in and managing in a proper manner to bring it into the air in time to come. It is wholly out of the use, because it is now combined with other subquestion. There are and will be instances in which stances, forming coarse particles or lumps which analysis of soil will be of the first consequence to growing plants cannot use. (b.) the farmer. But there are and always will be To prepare the abundant mass of earthy or very few in New England. The thing is entirely mineral substances of the subsoil for use, certain out of the question, for the farmers of N. E. to substances from among the organic constituents of get their worn out lands analyzed. plants, or those which are thrown into the air by The worn-out or exhausted lands of New Eng-burning, are necessary. These being exhausted, land, or those which are often spoken of as such, are there is a lack of power to assimilate and prepare very generally supposed to be exhausted most in the the inorganic substances or elements for use. |