Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-04-22

For the Union Agriculturist.
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1 DEAR SlR3-As the idea of suitably enclos
ing onr psairies 10 render them fit for culsiva
ton, appears to be topic likely TO produce
good deal Of speculation and interest; and a
various ways and means are almost daily plan
ned out and most economical as regards III
T consideratlon Of timber; /, among the rest
have mt plan. although not entirely origina
with myself; but having had some experience
. within the last year, propose 10 write dow
that experience; and sholld you think il adyi
sable: you can publish it or not as you thinl
best.
Tathe first place then, l think that Pyoy;
denv-Feould never have created a section o
county, aud better adapted it to the wants o
the farmer than is this Western Prairie couh
| try unless he had built houses and fences
farms: II certainly is no longer question i,
be asked: caH we get along with so little tim
Der The matter is settled with me and
think any person looking al the same state o
facts, will give up the point at once. Had
good timber within two miles Of my prairie
! say would never haul rails to make farm
as long as could make fence so much east
er and cheaper by
Hedging and D;tthing.--I enclosed las,
spring GO acres with ditch and embankmen,
which promises we'll so far; and for cheapness
! VIII turn II against any Other mode that can
De devised. ! commenced work With three
hands about the middle Of April; all Of us per-
fectly fresh hands-had never done any thing
OF the like nor seen it done. ! soon found thai
we could make our four rods a day 10 each
hand easy, ltwelve rods per day in ally anu
we pnt ii up in good s,yle-dilch four fee, a,
top, one foot at bottom and three and half
feet deep, and eighteen inches on top; we'll
sodded up on both sides with sod cut TO fit.
We continued on a, that rate until we flash
ed, las having tasked ourselves at ~ rods per
day at the start j but soon found we could do
it long before night. Indeed l believe can
make six rodsiG day Of the above discrip-
ton. The hands cost me so cents per day, so
you can readily perceive what my fence cost
me.
10 make the, Ditch.-My plan Of operating
was this: set two rows Of stakes four feet a.
part, each, 10 make the different lines Of the
ditch. Six and half feet from the inside
row Of stakes, / set third row to make the
inside of the BERNIE for the embankment, leav.
ing about nine inchess on each side not to be
covered by the embankment. ] then take my
sod cutter, Gan instrument by The way Of my
own invention, and which resembles the old
fashioned bar-shire prairie plough with no
mould board and with good cutlery and with
side line OF the ditch, culung uEu ura- -. ::
The edge and bottom ;and In ti,f. wey cut all
the sod Of the top of the ditch four feet wide;
and also on the inside of the third row OF
stakes, cut four feet Of god in like manner
leaving them from six to ten inches wide. and
from five 10 eight inches thick, and left lying
precisely as it grew. then pass along with
a spade, aud cut the sod off the other way, IN
blocks Of from Id to Is inches in length. The
sod is then easily removed off from the top OF
the ditch. You will thea see we have our
ditch already. 3 inches deep, IN only removing
the sod. place the inside row Of sod, on the
outside line Of the embankment, 6 inches from
the inside line Of the ditch, fat down with the
grass side up, and the same also on the other
side Of the ENHANCEMENT. l then threw Out
the dirt from the ditch, putting up the sod on
either side. grass side ont, as the embankpent
is filed. When done it makes very N1etty
fence and one too which stock will dre4 TO
approach. 1 think may be, it would bs better
to make the ditch five feet atop and four feet
deep; aud then all would.be safe. This fence
am sure will under ordinary circumstances.
last some or 10 years and turn stock; IN
be raised. And as to the
Material for Hedging, the matter is settled
with me. have sought all the information
on the subject that was come-atable Tor the
last twelve months, and have come 10 the con-
clusion that the thorn, Of which cur native
thorn is the best, is not only the safest, bst
best of hedging materials. One says the Cot
ton wood will do: another the Pear; Honey
Locust; and the fourth says black Walnut or
black Locust. But they are all forest trees,
and must be delt with as such. have no
doubt from my owl experiences, as well as the
experience Of others, that soulthiag very much
like Hedge might be grown.from any OF the
above named varieties; hut never to make a
psitect Hedge. The fact is If failure should
happen with the forest tree, the thing Is out
| but with the Thorn there is no.anestlon at-ail
at-all; and that we have the very best varieties
| in our country, and plenty too, no pracicaii
Hedgers attempt to doubt. say then we VIII
make good ditch and embankment, and com
mence forthwith with the Hedge; and ia
| short time we have the best and pre,tiest fence
and most durable of any in the weird no mis-
make a good Thorn Hedge, say it will be q
saving eventually, and ten to one in favor Q
the Thorn. ss f@i&at
am making some experiments with Haw'
gathered this fall for the purpose Of Hedging
and If succeed, shall be glad to find an.
one who will be willing to profit by my expe
ricnce. / have on hand several communica
lions from practical Hedgers. which. shoui'
YOU think would be of any advantage to u
cause, are at your disposal some Of which
know would satisfy the inquiries Of Mr.. Arch
er Of Missouri.
l am somewhat concerned for fear that
have already tired your patience with this ie1
! ter il so read the less Of il, and the write
will ever pray that you may prosper and Sc
! head and never Jet it be told In the streets