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The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
n,IE EAp>rER AND MECHANIC.
Cost OF Fences.

We find bv compilation Of re-
ports 10 the Department OF Agrl-
culture. that the cash value OF the
annual farm products Of the Onlted
States is over S2.450, 600, COO, while
the value Of all the live stock, II
Guiding horses, mules, cattle, sheep,
hogs. was, on the first day OF Feb
ruarv, 1872, s1,659,212, 933, or
about $500, 600, 600 less than the
value of the annual farm products
To protect this $3.50, O0O, 600
worth Of growing crops from being
DESTROYED By the 81, 659,2l2,933
worth Of live stock, we have built
l.6l9.199.42S rods of fence, lnclos-
inc $50. 505,6 GA acres of ground,
with an average of 646 rods per
per acre, costing s1.0o per rod, or
sos per acre, making a total cost
of 81, AS, 529, 1o5, or about so9,-
3I..l92 above the value OF ali the
live stock. The annual decay and
cost of repairs cannot be less than
ten per cent. of the original cost OF
the fence, or s114,S52,9 lS, interest
at sever per cent. per annuln.
s124,319,Sl !; total annual cost,
s299.l12.o29. But this Is not all.
A fence occupies and wastes an ave
rage of one-half rod wide, or one
acre for every fifty inclosed, making
a total for all the fences OF s., 1Ol,-
1913 acres. The gross proceeds, per
acre, for the cultivated grounds III
the United States for the year 1871,
amounted to 50. IS. Call 1t 50 per
acre, and taking two-thirds as the
cost of cultivation, we have IS as
the net proceeds per acre, which
would show an annual loss OF Sl5O,-
400. 1863, which, added to the annual
cost, makes the enormous sum Of
nearly 5000, 600, 900 paid by those
who have the heaviest burden Of
taxes to pay, and who besides have
already expended more than all the
stock IN the country is worth to
fence IN their crops, and give free
range to the stock owners, who need
not own or improve or pay taxes
upon a single acre. But people are
beginning to believe that when they
have bought a piece of land. and
paid for it, and pay taxes upon it,
they ought to own the land, and the
crops growing thereon, and be pro
tected in their rights to do with it
as they please, providing that
nothing which they do, or grow, or
keep, shall interfere with the right
Of others. Observer.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
Testing Seeds.

The complaints from farmers re-
garding the inferior quality of the
seed they purchase, have become
universal. The Gardeners Waga-
zine gives the following test, used
in the single case of turnip seed
but it would be equally useful if
applied to seed of any kind
Before sowing "a field of turnips
the seed was invariably tested in the
following simple manner: An ordi-
nary dinner plate was taken, and a
circular piece of fine flannel, just
large enough to cover the lower
part, was laid upon it. The plate
was then placed on a table before a
window on the sunny side of the
house. The whole mass of seed to
be tested was then thoroughly
mixed by hand, SO hat a fair sample
could be taken from it by a small
spoon. The seeds SO taken were laid
on a piece of paper and carefully
counted, but without selection for
quality, and a number, say 200
seeds, we're then spread evenly on
the piece of flannel before named,
after which a little cold water was
gently poured over the flannel until
it was saturated, but not quite COW
cred, in this way it was allowed to
stand for a few days exposed to the
influence of light and air, when the
swollen seeds were seen to have ger
minated and thrown up long and
slender white shoots of half an inch
or more in height. All that was
then necessary was simply to count
the number Of dead seeds that lie
exposed on the flannel IN the same
condition in which they yer placed
there, and hence the precise per-
centage Of live and dead seeds were
accurately ascertained. When this
percentage was unsatisfactory, my
father invariably returned the seed
to the merchant and bought some
other in its place, but he never lost
a crop of turnips from using dead
seeds
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
Feeding Stock.

Do you recommend chaffed hay
and straw mixed for farm horses
and cattle? If SO, what quantity
should be given daily to horses !?
In the case of cattle, mix with
pulped food as to quantity, for
horses, II to Is lbs. per day. 2.
What quantity of pulped roots
should be given daily to mich COWS,
and to young cattle during the win
ter If the cows have not calved,
a small quantity will be sufficient,
say % to 80 lbs. per day. Young
cattle, 1 or ) stones daily. 3. Should
chatfed fodder and roots be mixed
or given separately Mixed. i.
What quantity of parsnips may be
give to milch COWS daily? Cows in
milk may get as much as they will
eat twice a day without waste. 5.
Should parsnips be pulped and
mixed with other roots, and what
reduction may then be made in the
quantity of the latter? Parsnips
may be pulped along with other
roots !; but we cannot fix any de-
finite weight of the latter to be de-
Quoted because some parsnips have
been mixed IN the bulk. Dietary
of animals cannot be fixed to a
nicely. Some eat more than others,
and there are other circumstances
which affect the consumption of
food. 6. What quantity Of carrots
may be given daily to a farm horse,
and what reduction should then be
in his oats? II lbs. Of carrots, for
which deduct / or 5 lbs. of oats
from his daily allowance.-Irish
Farmers Gazette.
This is the way they do it across
the big pond.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
SULPHUR and Charcoal.

These are both very excellent IN
gradients to mix occasionally with
fowl-feed, either for young or old
birds. But both should be used
with discretion. Toe much sulphur
applied outwardly, to destroy lice
for example, or too large a quantity
given in the food, will work disad-
vantageously. Continually powder
ing and smearing the mother hens
with sulphur, operates to the detri-
ment Of the young broods, fire.
quently. This fine dust often tails
from the hens bodies when used in
e~xcess) into the eyes Of the young
chicks, and blinds them oftentimes.
SO it should be used carefully, while
the chicks are still being brooded.
Powdered charcoal, when given
in the mashed feed, will be admin
istered to best account if the matter
is not carelessly oyerdone. A little
goes a great way as a purifier Of the
crop and stomach-aiding the di-
gestive powers and sweetening the
fOOd Tor the time being. III broken
up into bits the size Of crushed
corn, fowls will eat about all they
need of it in this shape.
Granulated bone for adult fowls,
and bone meal for chicks, are ad-
mirable helps, while the former are
laying and the latter are growing.
Keep no more than about thirty
adult fowls IN the same building.
A house ten by twelve will accom-
modate such a number very we'll.
Where one hundred fowls are kept,
three or four such houses are re-
CURED. They should be placed
within, or on the line of, an en-
closure of not less than one-fourth
of an acre. and this should be the
exclusive home of the fowls, from
which they may be allowed to range
about the farm premises at such
times as their health and well-being
may require, but not to the injury
of more important farm interests
Western IQricuAurtst.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28

oulred is an important economy.
As the blood Of the flock Is adyanc-
ed and the Angora type Is establish
ed. the Angora buck Is advisable
and essential. IN order 10 MAINTAIN
the stamp Of purity.
The lowest grade producing No
hair of commercial value l. the
seyen-eighths or third cross. Al
ter this 0 the increased value
of mohair is in the same ratio a
the further infusion OF pure blood
The fact i not generally known,
and one that tends TO give enhanc-
ed value to the Angora as a source
of food supply, that the flesh when
matured and fattened Is equal IN
flavor ard richness to the best NUT
ton. and a saddle from a two year
old weather will be accepted rs the
best Southdown.
With a experience Of eighteen
years IN rearing and breeding An
goras, | have never detected Dut
one ailment that effects them lnJu-.
%riously; this is an inflammation OF
the hoof that lanes and occasional
" kills when neglected. The
remedy is simple and etficacious,and
consists in pairing the hoof with a
sharp knife, or rather any unnatu-
raj elongation of the hoof, sprinkle
the,inflamed part in the cleft OF the
hoof freely with pulverized blue
stone and apply coal or gas-tar over
the exterior of the hoof or heel,
and in the cleft. 1t is best to IN
corporate ~pulyerized blue-stone
with the tar in addition to sprlnk-
ling the crude blue-stone on the
parts. After this treatment the
goats should be confined IN a dry
enclosure if tie weather Is damp.
There is no disease to which
sheep are subject that atlllct the
Angora; contagious and mala-
dies are unknown in my flock, and
when one dies it is due to some
accidental cause, or the result OF
approximation. Their average du-
ration of life is from ten to fifteen
years ; and | am credibly inform
ed may attained the advanced age
of twenty years.
Angoras produce from one to
two kids at a time and should not
be permitted to breed but once an
nually; oftener impairs the vigor
and size of both ewes and kids"
We copy the above to suggest
their suitability for Western, \. Z.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
Household Hints.

Hang pictures with copper or sil-
yer wire.
Better untidy rooms than i'll
cooked food.
Eat Graham pudding and milk for
breakfast.
Mend coal scuttles with flour paste
and Canton flannel.
A cement of ashes and salt Will
stop cracks IN a stove.
Wicks must bcchanged frequently
to insure a good light.
Bonnets with strings are worn,
even by very young ladies.
Don't use good sheets to ron upon,
taking a fresh one every week.
Pour cold tea, that otherwise
would be thrown away, into the
vinegar barrel.
A cup of water in the oven, while
baking, will prevent meats, bread,
etc., from burning.
Mend china with a cement made
of plaster of Paris and a thick solu-
ton of gum arabic.
Cranberries can be kept fresh
many weeks by keeping them under
water in the cellar, changing the
water every two weeks.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
Farming.

Mr.. Frank Henderson, of Shoe
Heel. i certainly entitled to the palm
for the best farming that las yet
been reported. In 1876 he planted
II acres of land IN oats. (Ha- rust
proof and threshed out 10 bushels,
which he sold at $3.50 per bushel ;
he then planted the same ground IN
sweet potatoes, roasting corn, water
melons. musk melons. cucumbers,
&C. He measured 225 bushels OF
potatoes, which he sold ut % cents
per bushel. and had roasting ears
ard fruit enough TO last till frost,
besides putting up cucumber pickles
enough TO have lasted eve since.
Last wear he planted the same lot
in wheat. and threshed out sos
bushels, which he sold for $500 per
bushel :: he then sowed the lot IN
sweet and Irish potatoes, turnIps,
roasting corn, melons, &c. he mea-
sured 200 bushels sweet potatoes,
10 bushels Irish potatoes. 20 bushels
ruta baga turnips, and besides keep
ing his family IN all the melons
that they could consume, sold $50
worth. Mr.. Henderson SAYS this
was accomplished without CONNER
cial fertilizers. as he has used but
two sacks of fertilizers in The last
eioht vears.-R0beSOuiaR.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
To Tan Skins.

Take equal parts of p~ulverized
alum and salt, and sprinkle over
the skin while it is green Tor if dry,
wet it with water) until it will soak
up no more, and then roll it into a
tight roll and lay away for about
thirty-six hours. 1t will gather
moisture sufficient to form a brine
which will cure the skin. Then
unroll and spread to dry when
nearly dry, work it and stretch it
until it is entirely dry, when it will
be soft and pliable, and wear as well
as if tanned by some patent process.
This Is a simple and easy plan and
easily tried. | used to tan wood
chuck skins in this way, and have
them made into mittens.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
l. FEBRUARY -, ISIS.

DEEP OR SHALLOW PLANrIN.
FOR PoTAToEs.-The country ca--
tleman says: We tried the exTer.
ment last year, on several alterDa-a
rows of potatoes about thirty rolls
long. Of planting 4 part about -g.
or three inches deep, and anorba-
five inches deep. The latter IN.
yariably produced about 20 to ,,
per cent. more potatoes. the tras..
ment in every other respect berr.
the same. They were cu.e.y.
flat. which always gives more .r..
when ridged.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
A Daughter Keeping Farm Ac-
counts

"My daughter keeps my farm
accounts, sir; and she is as system
attic and particular as ever my son
was, who kept them before he left
home. | tell you it does girls (and
he might have added boys also) good
to give them some responsibility,
and set them to watching things
about the farm and household.
They learn, | find, economy by it,
and soon discover that their old
father is not, necessarily, a grabbed
old curmudgeon, because he does
not loosen his purse string whenever
they see something they happen to
fancy /; for they discover the reason
why the purse should not be open
ed"
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
ECONONY IN LITTLE THJNGS

ECONOMY IN LITTLE Things
1t often happens that economy in
large matters leads to the neglect
of many smaller things. True
economy is the gatheringup of the
fragments-the little things-so
that nothing will be lost. Moth
ing should be thrown away that
possesses the least value-for, tri-
fling and valueless as it may seem
at the moment, a little thought
and reflection will enable one to
put it to some good use.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
Recipes.

CURE FOR CRoUP.-A piece Of
lard as big as a butternut, rub
bed up with sugar, divided into
three parts and given at intervals
of twenty minutes.
FRECKLE LoTIoN.-Mix two
ounces of lectified spirits OF wine,
and two teaspoonsful of muriate
acid, with one pound and q half
Of distilled water.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
The Great Southern Cotton
CultivatOr.

\ few laws ago we IeccINeu a
printed sheet with the above head
ing. and just below the heading the
name of Edward II. Sutton, Il
yentor." Below the name was the
cut Of a pillow beam and handles on
two wheels, one wheel under the
beam where the handles were united
to it. and the other under the point
near the %clevis. Between the wheels
were two upright shafts passing
through the beam, and each flat
teneo into the shape OF a scraper at
the foot.
The Great Southern Cultivator
Company, Washington, ID. Z" says
on this sheet that this implement IN
the cultivation Of cotton will do the
work of ten men with hoes. Ap-
pended to this assertion Is a certlti-
cate of Ex-Governor Brogden, of
North Carolina, saying that he had
examined the implement, and
doubts not it is a good thing.
Another certificate from an officer
in the Department Of Justice at
Washington, d.. c., Ca nice place to
90 to get a recommendation for a
plow,) SAYS he has examined the
model of this pillow, invented by
Sutton, a cOlOred nan Of North
Carolina, and therefore commends
it to the farmers and planters of the
South.
On the reverse side of this sheet
is the following letters:
Permit me to call your atten-
ton % this improved invention as a
valuable acquisition to the cotton
c~ultivators. Your very influential
position as president of the Agri-
cultural Societies of our State will
enable you to present the same to
the farmers, and | shall be pleased
to furnish it to any at the low price
of ten dollars. We shall be pleased
to have you examine u machine
and pass your judgment upon its
value. Very respectfully,
RICHARD II. CAIN.
Washington, d. c., Jan. 70, 1873"
We have thus infinitely mentioned
this fact simply to advise our readers
that the Commissioner of Patents
has told us that. much to his sur
prise, the latent talent of invention
is being rapidly developed through
out the South, and that according
to numbers there are nov more
patents issued to Southern than
Northern patentees, and strange to
say the c0lOreI man comes IN for
his patent, as IN this instance.
We are not surprised at acolored
man inventlng a substitute for the
hoe, for it has always seemed to us,
if we were subjected to the
sity of hoeing our crops there would
sOon be an invention of some sort
on hand to shift the labor. Hoeing
cotton and picking cotton are two
things white men don't like to do,
nor will they do it if they can hire
anybody else to do it for them, nor
do we blame them. And, strange
as it may seem, this very disagree
able and hard work is most com
monty performed by the ONE on
the farm, both black and white.
For their relief we say, give
"Daddy's" invention a trial. We
have seen it, and saw it before we
ever had any idea a South Carolina
Congressman had any share in it,
and we are prepared to believe it
would do good work on the level
sandy and white lands of our lower
and eastern counties. On land
covered with stones, or stumps and
roots, this implement would prove
a failure. Give it a trial and re-
port progress.-D. Wyatt Aiken, Of
South Carolina, in Charleston Meas.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
NOURISHING PROPERTIES {

NoURISHING PROPERTIES OF
DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES. - DIR.
Letheby in his works on Food"
gives the following table Of the
nourishing properties of the differ
ent products of the mill. The car
bonaceouS element is what main
tains animal heat, and generates fat.
while the heterogeneous constituents
construct and repair the tissues.
are the producers Of the muscle
and the brain.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28

EQUINE GIANTs.-Mr. Edward
Morton, of Aberdeen, Ohio, shipped
recently to Boston, Mass, a lot
OF five horses, among them two
grays, 4 years old, each 20
hands high, and weighing together
1900 pounds. They were pur-
chased for an ice farm in that city.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28

Ten BRoEcK.-A Kentucky ex-
change says: Ten Brock is now in
training, is doing splendidly, and
will meet all corners IN races of two
and a half to four miles for any
sum from 81, 800 to $40, 900, provid-
ed the races are run either at Lex
ingtOn Or Louisville.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28

At a recent farmers meeting in
Massachusetts a speaker gave a
recipe for making farming pay, as
follows: "Have but one business,
and get up in the morning and see
to it yourself"
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28

There are four million voting
farmers in the United States. Ask
unitedly and You a get whatever
you ask.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28
Grams per pound

An adult consumes daily in idle
ness, 1916 grains of carbon and $50
grains Of nitrogen; in active labor,
1923 grains of Carbon and 1879
grains of nitrogen.
The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-28

A farmers eye among his stock
s worth more than his hands.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-04

The sherlffs made three seizures yt sterday.
Fine day yesterday. Mercury $50 at SUM-
rise, 52o at noon; wind west
A pile of Christmas trees lies on franklin
wharf, to be shipped to New York.
The council called to consider DR.. Carruthers
Dismissal will be held at 2.30 p. m. to-day.
The man who was taken with small pox, is a
Scandinavian, lately come from Montreal to
work on the ocean steamships
There was a big break in the Sebago water
pipe on Oxford street, yesterday, between
Smith and Anderson street.
The bill board at the corner of Market and
Congress street has bsen removed for tae
erection of a wooden dry goods store.
There will be an antiquarian supper in the
circle room of the High st. Church this even
ing from to 8 clock.
A man fell overheard from the revenue
steamer Dallas as she was going down the
harbor " sterday, and before she could check
her speed he swan to schooner lying near.
The house on Cedar street that caught fra
Monday night was insured with Rollins &
Adams and was damaged to the amount of
500. Messrs. Dow & Palmer settled with
Mr.. Lewis, for damage to furniture for $25
There was quite an exciting trial of fisticuffs
on Elm street yesterday, in which woman
particlps selling one of the principals by
the wbiskers and rather Influencing the results.
Money trouble were said to BIZ at the bottom of
the affair.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-04
GOrhau,


The Normal School building has been divest-
ed of the staging, and the old barn which has
stood on the lot and obstructed the view has
been removed. The appearance of the building
is much improved thereby. There ia hardly a
spot or summit in the county which commands
SO extensive and fine view. A few days ago
from the upper story we counted forty live
sailing vessels off Saco beach. The hills and
mountains of New Hampshire are easily seen,
and the hills of Oxford county are 10 fall view,
and the uneven territory between is easily
traced in every direction. The building is near
~ completed, is one of the finest in the state
and gives perfect satisfaction. A public ded-
cation will take place in about three weeks with
appropriate exercises when the entire proper
ty will be handed over to the state. The Trus-
tees are making extensive repairs on the old
seminary building, which will be used for a
dormitory. The building has been newly
shingled, and Mr.. Ponnel of Portland is put
ting in steam heating apparatus of sufficient
capacity to heat tie entire building. All the
rooms are to be ne WY papered and painted.
and the kitchen aud dining rooms are to be
renovated and improved The arrangements
for first class school will be complete by Jan.
LIST, 1879, and the state cannot fail to have an
institution of which it may we'll bs proud.
The cash outlay on new building and improve.
ments will be nearly $2S,OOO which is largely
due to the enterprise and libsrality Of the cti-
zeps of Gorham-and to which the state has
contributed nothing.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-04

President Ghamb laio Of Bowdoin College
is expected hons from Europe this week.
G. Hayes, the well known halter, is very
ill from nervous prostraton.
After January LIST clergymen will be obliged
to pay full railroad fares.
G. e. Hubbard of Hiram has been ap-
pointed mail agent on the Portland & Ogdens-
burg railroad.
/ j. V. Farrar, agent of "Uncle Toms Cabin"
FL L HIughton, Bath, and I. ]. Southland,
Richmond, are stopping at the Preble House
The many friends Of Coun Gilman Sturgis
will sympsthizs with him 10 his affection,
caused by the death of a little son yesterday.
Hiram FL Rich. formerly of tits city, and
lately appointed Boston patrolman, was quail
flied yesterday, he having been sick since his
appointment
Messrs Charles and Harry Milliken were on
the New Haven express train wrecked at New
ingtop, Conn, Friday night, but escaped with
out ipiary.
Gen. e. M. Hosmer Of West Boylston,
Mass, prominent citizen of Worcester coun-
~, died recently. He was a native of Farm
iugton in this state, and served as a ffer in
the war of 1872. He subsequently was made
Major General of militia and drilled COM
pany for service in the late war.
Thomas May bury, Esq. of South Windham,
died recently at the age of 80 years. He held
the office of selectman eleven years, and also
filled other positions of trust and took prom
inent part in educ atioual matters. In the war
of 1872 he rendered efficient aid for the pro-
lection of the harbor of Portland He ALWAYS
lived on the farm where he was born, and en-
joyed married life of over sixty years, leav-
ing widow and three children.