Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-12-11

Kali AND BOARD I ESQ Es.--On the approach
of winter farmers naturally begin to think
Of proyidin. stuff for rebuilding or repairing
such of their fences as by decay have ceased
to become god barriers. There are two
points of Importance which We wish at the
present time to urge upon them, in making
this provision. The fist is to have their
rails or fence boards cut Of proper length.
Rails are made of lengths Of ten, twelve and
oftourteen feet. Sometimes timber that is hard
to split is cut shorter than thatwhich is smooth
er freer, and most easily severed into rails. If
these different lengths are kept entirely Sc
paratc from each other, this difference may
answer but usually it is difficult to DO this
without considerable inconvenience. When
rails become old, they need asserting by
throwing out those likely to break, and re
serving the soundest. These secondhand
rails should be used in a fence together, and
new rails kept by themselves. To make
fence of such mixed rails Will cost twice the
labor required to build one Of good materials
Of uniform length. Ii Is therefore better to
have all the rlil-cuts measured carefully and
accurately, and cut with a cross-cut saw.
and to use the logs Of varying lengths for
saving into boards, or working up for fuel.
In using those of perfectly uniform lengths
the fence Is easily laid out, rapidly built, and
presents heater and smoother appearance
at the corners. 1t will likewise be stronger
and less liable 70 become overthrown.
The same incpnveniences result from IN
equal lengths in fence boards, although in a
deterrent way. If one line Of fence happens
to be twelve feet long, and another distinct
portion fourteen or sixteen feet, no harm re-
suits. But if the boards are intended to he
Of some definite length, and are carelessly cut
and arc found to vary all through six or eight
inches from each other, continued trouble
will arise, unless the boards are sawed of at
the ends To a considerable waste. All this
trouble will be avoided by carefully cutting
the saw-logs Of measured uniform length.
The Is another point Of importance in
How TO DITCH IN WNTER.-Onc Of the
most essential of all Improvements, often
postponed till too late, Is UNDERMINING
Very lew suppose it may be performed when
the ground Is frozen hard, and as soon there
fore a. sharp frost commences, the work o,
cutting drains ceases. This is not at all ne
cessary but on the other hand, it may be
carried on through considerable portion Of
the winter months, if properly conducted
The following mode has been adopted
where several hands were employed. late
in autumn, before the ground had become
permanently frozen. the drains were laid out
and the work was commenced by blowing
burrows on the lines. These We're deepened
by repeating the process and throwing out
the loose earth by hand, with pointed shovels
turned up at the sides. The shoyels were
such as are sold commonly in market, and
the work of turning up an inch or two Of
the sides readily done by any common black
smith When the bitches become a foot or
more deep (being as narrow as may be thus
rade( it will require a hard freeze to affect
Mt all the earth in their bottoms About at
this point the ditching plow is brought into
requisition and loosening up the subsoil,
the shovelling out is continued by hand un-
I'll the required depth of two and half or
three feet is reached. If the cold is quite
sharp. the motion of the pillow and of the
shovels through the day, viii keep the earth
open and on the approach Of a cold night,
the ditching pillow Is passed all along the
bitches. 50 ar TO leave several inches Of mel
low earth in the bottom. This looseucd earth
being full of air cavities, is poor conductor
of cid and will prevent the subsoil from .
freezing below, at the same that it is easily
broken up again the next morning. if some
what frozen itself Hence the work can 20 .
ON without hindrance or difficulty. 4 little
snow. ii it happens to fall into the bitches.
entirely prevents freezing. and is easily show
ellcd out. If very hard frost sarprehended,
Il load Of cornstalks, well bound in bundles.
will 60 good way in protecting the bitches.
by being dropped lengthwise along them, us
ually remaining at the top without falling in.
and aifarding efficient protection.
The tile should he laid and slightly cover
I'd befnre the thawing Of spring, OF much Of
he labor viii have to be done over again by
The fall z III Of the thawed earth-Couutrv
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