Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-30
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WAoH1N6TON NEWS AND 6OSSAf.
SOMETHING USEFUL AS WELL AS Nkw.-Noth-
ing affords us greater pleasure than to note useful
Improvements in the arts thsy come successfully
under our observation, and more especially where
they appertain to the noblest Of all arts Practsed
by civilized man-agriculture-whic In at the
basis of national prosperity, as Of that OF all
other great nations, nations that have been
great in their day and generation. We have, in
person, seen the rise and progress Of almost all
the mechanical Improvements sppertaining to
agriculture that have done much for this
country for since our manhood they have almost
totally changed the methods and modes of the
farmer In arriving at results that have been his
sole aim, as IL were, since Virgil wrote in praise
of his truly enrolling calling. During our boy
hood agricultural implements in this country were
comparatively little advanced beyond what they
had been for a century before. The rudest thresh-
ing machine was then to be found in no farmers
possession, and a machine-reaper was a thing un-
dreamed Of A drain-plow had not then been
conceived, nor had any other corn-planter than
the hu sbandmans hand, entered into any ones
Imagination. Could farmer only versed in the
use of the implements in vogue but brief quarter
Of century since be found now, and shown the
results achieved by the improved farm machinery
of this era, he would doubt the evidence Of his
senses. Indeed we may safely say that such i'm
Provements now in use in this country have trebled
the availability of the farmers labor in that time
That Is to say, with the tools and machinery of
the times; farm laborer can accomplish three
times as much work in nearly every branch of
his calling, his father could with
those in use twenty-five years ago. We
know, for instance, that by the use of cutting
and grinding machinery in preparing every de-
Of fNaI faaI
| nearly one-half the provender required to feed a
large stock before resorting to the of such me-
chanical assistance; and keep the stock-horses,
horned stock, sheep and hogs-in much better
Condition than before. This is no theory with US,
but the result of careful experiments and compar-
atvely leng practice in feeding uncut hay, straw,
blades, stalks and roots, aud unground corn and
oats, and, subsequently, in feeding the former cut
and torn to shreds, and the latter invariably thor
oughly ground-the work of preparing it being
done principally in rainy weather, when farm
laborers' time usually hangs heavily upon their
hands, and the power necessary to drive the ma
chinery-the farm horses-otherwise stand eating
their heads of. Thus, with food properly pre-
pared, we can keep two horses, steers, sheep or
hogs, for a winter, with the same weight Of food
that it was formerly necessary for to accord to
one-and keep them IN better condition into the
bargain.
We are led into this train of reflection by exam
lining closely portable fence now being exhibited
by the patentee, Mr.. Charles Vandemark, Of Oaks
Corners, Ontario county, New York, in the open
space on Pennsylvania avenue near Seventh street
The farmer accustomed to estimate the expense Of
fencing will, on seeing it, readily comprehend a
great many advantages II possesses over any other
farm fence now in general use. Thus, he will at
nrlu ,af
necessity for single post and requires in its con-
struction but trfe more fencing plank than If
posts were used, and really no more nails than are
requisite in making an ordinary post and plank
fence. Next, that any single farm hand can
build Of 1t twice as much fence per diem as two
men can build if digging post holes and setting
fence posts. Again, that all the work may be
done under cover on rainy days. Next again,
that as its every upright may be set upon a stone
this fence need touch the soil nowhere; which
must double its durability. Again, II answers as
well set in straight line as zigzag curved and
is as sure defense against unruly cattle as post
and plank fence be- as, set up as il may be- IL
cannot be overturned; for while great force is
necessary to break it down is requisite to break
down post and plank fence, no force that cattle
can bring TO bear upon il can possibly overturn a
panel Of ii, each one of them being interlocked
Win the other ana yet so simple IN their arrange
ment, as that two boys of fourteen may set up or
remove in day miles on miles Of the previously |
prepared panels the preparation of which requires
perhaps little more than half the time requisite to
dig ordinary post holes and set posts in them for
as much fence.
Our belief is that this improvement will re-
duce the cost Of the lumber required to make as
effective fence with post, at least one-third-tae
labor required to make the fence one-half, and |
will nearly double its durability; besides greatly |
reducing the quantity of cross-fencing now ordi-
narily necessary on the farm. AS, being portable
and instantly fxabe, its position be shifted at
will with the smallest conceivable labor. We
give the inventor and patantee great credit for his
improvement, because satisfied that ii is destined
to save the agricultural interest Of the country
perhaps an aggregate Of hundreds of thousands Of
dollars annually, as insignificant an affair as it
may seem to be I'm the eyes of the uninitated In
the economy Of the farm.