Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-04
AGRICULTURE.

SAVING FENCEs.-This is an item that |
should be carefully estimated, as 1t Is |
one of the heaviest burdens of agricul- |
ture. Fences are needed only to re-
strain stock; and II the stock Is not
pastured no fence is needed, except for
yards, and perhaps a lane TO lead the
cattle to the wood lot for simple eXer-
else. Take the fact of fenciug ninety
acres into four fields, for pasturing
thirty cows or cattle. These fields
would be % acres, and would require
720 rods of fence. Now, If this fence
cost only 81 per rod, and If we suppose
it to last twenty years, then the decay
will amount TO five per cent. a year,
and the labor of annual repair Is gener-
ally estimated at five per cent. The in
terest on the original cost at seven per
cent. would be $50. 40, and the ten per
cent. for decay and repair $72, making
$l22 40 rs the annual expense for fenc-
ing pasture for thirty head of cattle.
We shall see that this Is more than the
cost of labor for soiling the thirty head
of stock, Mr.. David Williams carefully
prepared the fence statistics of Wal
worth county, Wisconsin, and, after
deducting for waste lands In ponds and
lakes and one-half of the division fences,
he makes the annual cost for the whole
county about 81 per acre. Mr.. Prince,
of Maine, goes into an elaborate calcu-
lation OF the cost of fences in that State
in 1850, and the result does not vary
much from an annual cost of ST per
acre. The late Ezra Cornell took
great interest in studying this question,
and gave his views In an address before
the State Agricultural Society of New
York in 1862, and he arrived at the con-
cluSion that the average cost of fencing
for every acre inclosed in that Soate is
81 per annum. If then we take this as
fair estimate in the older States, every
acre of the farm must be charged at
this rate, or a farm of 800 acres, which
usually keeps about 60 head of cattle,
would pay fence tax of $500 in labor
and material. The smaller the farm
and the smaller the lots the greater the
cost of fence per acre.
DRAINING LAND.-Draining plays q
very important part in successful and
profitable farming. No matter how
much fertiliZing matter you may put
on a field, and how well you may at
tend to the crops you may plant therein,
if the place needs draining you will get
but meagre and Improbable crops; tor
the land will remain wet, soggy and
sour during the wet weather, and will
bake hard aud solid on the surface dur
ing the hot summer months, both of
which are opposed to rapid plant
growth. The drain tile now so much
In use is by far the best; for it lasts in
| flnitely longer than wood, brush or
stone drains commonly put in, though
it may cost more to put such a dram
down properly, the tiles, though not
very expensive, making up quite a sum
when large piece is to be drained. 1t
pays, however, which is what the far
mer really wishes to know. Some
years ago the writer set out in the spring
n large plantation of choice pear trees.
| Owing 10 dry season the trees made a
| handsome growth. The season follow
Ing being a wet one the trees did very
poorly, and the year after this few of
them died. In the fall of the latter year,
suspecting the cause, several thousand
tiles were bought-three-in ones
and the piece thoroughly drained. The
| spring after this was done the trees
made an early and vigorous start, and
have since not only borne heavy crops
of fine fruit, but have also made good
uSdlJul STOWtHo OI WOOu anu IOlld2e.
So much for the result of drainage.
How TO SET HEN.-Very few peo-
pie know how TO set hen properly.
In the first place, remember that you
| can't make her sit if she don't want to.
| Cut a barrel in two in the middle, then
cut out one or two slaves, so that when
| it 10 stood on its end there will be plen-
| " of room for the hen to pass in and
out, Place the barrel on the ground,
with the headed end up, and then scoop
out the earth to a cOncave shape and
put IN a very little fine hay, and the
nest is ready for the eggs. If it is not
convenient to put the barrel on the
goound, grass sod placed underneath
he nest will answer. 1t is best to place
the hen on a few 2 lass or worthless eggs,
at first, as she may not take kindly To
the nest you have prepared for her.
Place her on the nest after dark and she
will get accustomed TO it through the
night. If she seems inclined to sit af-
ter this, she may be given the eggs
which are intended to be hatched. If
the hen is allowed to leave her nest
every day, small coop may be placed
in front of the barrel, and then she will
| be sure TO return to her nest. She
should always have near her cup of
water and plenty of food. If the above
directions are followed and the eggs are
well fertilized, a good brood of ch. ckens
may be expected.
The Brahma fowls are inclined to
obesity, and should not be fed wholly
upon corn. A Brahml hen will grow
fat while sitting when another hen
would get poor. Wheat bran moistened
with just enough milk to hold it togeth-
er is excellent food for sitting Brahma.
Use only the best bran.
That Dollar,