The Osceola times., 1881-06-25
fiCTs i'Ug fikHEEs.
The Different w.ys that GuIiies May be
Made Of service.

]
fields during the prevalence Of contin-
ued rains. They are Of no valne To the
farms they dishgure, but on the other
hand are great disaaysntage to them.
They occupy large amount Of land,
prevent passing from one side Of the
farm to another With wagons and ma
chinery, and have q constant tendency
to become longer, wider, and deeper.
Generally the sides break down every
spring as the frost leaves the soil, and
the earth which falls TO the bottom IS
carried away by the running water. The
deepening Of the gullies increases till
stone or hard clay is reached. Often
bushes or weeds fll up large portion Of
the sides and bottom Of the yullies and
they become the resort Of small, but
very mlschievous animals. The loss
sustained by the presence Of gullies on
many farms is very considerable, and
pains should be taken 10 prevent ii.
A gully NAV be converted into pond
by simply building dam across the
lower portion of it. This dam may be
built Of earth, timber. brick or stone the
latter being in every respect preferable.
The stone should be laid up with NOR
tar, composed IN part, at lea-t, Of hy-
iraulic cement or water lime. The stone
wall should extend into the embank-
ment on either side sufficiently TO pre-
vent the water from washing around il.
1t should also extend below the the bot
tom Of the gully at least as far as the
frost ever penetrates. On the top Of the
dam should be a depression for the over
fiox Of the pond when 1t is full. Near
the bottom should be large metal tube,
furnished with a stopcock for use In
drawing of the water as il is desired.
The tube should connect directly with a
watering trough, which should be where
stock Of all kinds can readily approach
it. II desirable the water can be con-
veyed 10 Q distant pasture by means OF
a wooden or metal pipe. The same tube
may be used for conducting water for
irrigating purposes. An arrangement
Of this kind will save much labor in
drawing water from well or cistern.
1t often happens that small but con-
slant stream of water from a spring near
it's upper extremity flows through a
gully. When this is the case it is very
easy matter to construct a fish pond,
after the manner suggested for making a
pond for storing water for stock and irri-
eating purposes. BY building several
dams along the course of the gully the
pond may be divided so that fish of dit
lerent varieties and sizes may be kept
within proper bounds, and all danger Of
their preying upon each other can be
completely avoided. By constructing a
series ei falls over the dams the water
will become charged with air so that the
fish will be in no want Of material for
purifying their blood. The water OF a
pond designed for fish can be drawn of
whom in abundance for the supply OF
stock, as well as for washing and irrigat-
ing purposes. The oftener il is changed
the better it will be for fish and cattle.
Many farmers decline to engage in fish
culture on account OF the trouble and ex-
pense Of excavating suitable ponds, but
when gully can be utilized for holding
water, the expense Of constructing pond
can be greatly reduced.
Gullies may also be converted into
ponds for the use of water fowls, and
hogs, which greatly enjoy, and are bene-
fitted by, place in which they can wash
themselves. A gully that has long been
offensive to the sight may be made to
ornament the premises to very high
degree. Nothing is required but to fill
st with water to plant hills in the soil Of
the bottom, to sod the banks above the
water, and to plant some ornamental
trees, shrubs, andIvlnes along the sides.
A few rustic bridges thrown across it
will greatly improve its appearance
Occasionally sullies are found that are
constantly dry, the water that formed
them now flowing through other cham
nels When this is the case they should,
if practical, be filed up. This NAV often
he done by throwing stones, stumps,
brush, corn stalks and other rubbish into
them and finally covering the whole
with soil. Sometimes dry gully may
be utilized by planting the sides with
berry bushes and crap vines. Many
varieties of berries do best when grown
in a partial shade. A sort Of seml.junglo
may often be formed in a dry gully
which will make very pleasant resort
for children. BY having it partially
shaded by vines growing on the bank
and trained over the top, it will be cool
even DUNG the hottest weather.
Very many gulles may be utilized for
the construction Of silos. Their prese nee
will save nearly all the work Of excava-
ton, and thereby greatly lessen the
expense Of fconstruction. II they are OF
considerable length an addition to the
sllo may be made at any time with little
trouble or expense. Ifthe gully is per-
manently dry nothing will be REQUIRED
to convert it into a silo but TO build the
walls and ill up the space between them
aud the banks with earth. If some water
runs through the gully 1t may be con,
Quoted below the space occupied bv the
sllo through cement or earthen drain,
The presence of a gully on farm NAV
do much toward inducing the owner to
test the value Of ensilage.
If the gully is situated at some distance
from the farm or stable where the stock
Is kept it may still be employed for the
purpose of silo. BY throwing a hight
roof over that portion of the gully that is
below the silo an excellent feeding place
for cattle may be obtained at little ex-
pense. A dry gully may be made to
afford very excellent protection for stock
IN times of severe storms, and even
through the hardest winters. Indians
often keep their ponies in pullies in the
side of the hills, the top being covered
with logs and evergreen boughs. II
would seem that the skill and inventive
ingenuity of white men could utilize gull
lies TO as great an advantage as savages
do.