The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-08

Western { Wis. } Farmer.

western lWis dItHcI.
Since the advent of the barbed wire fence,
and the advanced price of lumber for fenCin z
purposes, no question remains as to the fence
of the next generation; 1t will be iron, sup
ported by wood.
But the question of posts is one to be con.
sluercd h0tr; for the next generation they must
be largely grown from the ground, and may
be of two classes. LIST, Ihe lire fence post, for
for which no tree Is more suitable than the
white ash, and noXt the arch, European or
American, then the white pine arbOrvilE, red
cedar, and all the list of evergreens, which,
when once established. grow rapidly, are long
lived, have no sprouts to Interfere, and have
no diseases nor insect enemies to injure them.
Then we have bulternut, the maplcs-white,
soft and Wgundo-and at last the cottonwood
and willow, and, not least, the native plum
and Siberian crab.appe. Indeed, IN some
cases we would plant the last named at the
head of the list for a live fence post"
II should be observed that the presence OF
iron IN the staple or wire will not IN ure any
tree, and all these named may be headed
back" IN the future If too heavy topped or Oc.
cupying too much space. The second class
and most wanted is some durable timber tor
posts. This we find often in sound heart rails
from some old rail fence that have stood the
weather for twenty to forty years perhaps,
WHICH, II YET SOuHu, VIII ne BtNu LOT duOlucl
ten or twenty IN the ground.
No fast growing hardy timber We can grow
equals the European laich for TINS purpose.
Red cedar, white cedar, white ash, locust, and
where hardy enough the catalpa, are all good
trees to grow for this purpose, and the sooner
they are planted for tins object the better for
the country where The native timber is not IN
plentiful supply. These can be grown cheap
er than transported one hundred miles, to say
nothing of first cost.
But two things should be observed here
LIST, Never set an unseasOntd post; and 2d,
Thoroughly saturate the lower portions with
hot gas tar before setting. Even II soft pine
stick may be made almost everlasting 10y this
process. Timber for durability should be cut
II August aGd September, or just at the cnm-
plcuOn Of the years growth. Ii growing rap
idly, the hest time ugy be in October, hut not
when frozen, nor ~ tnc spring. Pertinent tn
this subject, T.. {. Bennett, IA the IOtrd Uomc
Stedd, says:
"There Is no other fence so easily built and
yet 80 little affected by storm snd fire and the
tooth of time, rs barb wire fence. The de
sideTatum is an IDdcsrucriblc post Iron posts
have been tried, but arc too expensive 10 secure
general introduction
\ problem that needs To be solved tand one
our professors az the agricultural college are
cnueaN uIlnE w spINc) l. HOW 10 arrest ucCom.
position in wooden fence posts. The end is
preservation. The means are % To exclude
moisture, or (2)to change the chemical con.
stltuents. a thoroughly seasoned post outlasis
a green post because the albumnOus portion
is changed-hardened and more or less firmly
fixed. Larch posts contain venice turpentne
and IN seasoning this substance combines
with the alhuminSus portion and makes a
quiet stable compound. The Catalpa seems
to have the property in some way to absorb
the sappy portion and throw it off ana thus
proves very durable.
The man who finds cheap chemical, easily