Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-27
ORCHARD AND Farm.
THE QUESTION OF FENCES OR NO
FENCES FOR FARMS.

FENCES FOR FARMS.
manurinr Observation-Disclosures Hatc,hing
in Egypt-Canning Sweet Potatoes
Fruit Growing-Farm Notes.
Nearly $7s,OOO,O 900 was expended in one
year, according to the census OF 1880. for
fencing, and the report of the recent census
NAV show larger sum. There is some
thing more than the actual cost of fences
to be considered, chief among them being
the large amount of timber used in that
direction, which could be better utilized in
some other manner. 1t is safe to claim,
also. that the litigatiops that have arisen
from the construction of fences, and the
disputes over the same, have caused losses
nearly equal to the expense of the fences,
while it is admitted that fences are I'M
slightly and take up valuable space that
does more than its share in disseminating
weeds and harboring vermin, both of which
not only rob the farmer, but entail upon
him extra work. In some States provis-
ions have been made, by suitable laws,
known as ''stock laws by which counties
or townships may elect to compel each
farmer to fence in his own stock instead
of fencing out" his neighbours stock, or,
in other words, each farmer NUT prevent
his stock from trespassing on land not his
own.
Such laws do not compel farmer to dis
pense with fences. He can still enjoy that
privilege, but it does not compel him to
fence his whole farm in order to guard
against the stock of Others. He can conse-
quently put fence around few acres
only or he may have movable fences for
shifting his stock. Land crops can thus be
cultivated without risk of injury from cat
tie owned by others. The time saved in hunt.
ing cows and hogs in the forests, and the
damage done young timber that is thus
avoided, is large, the old familiar Cow
bell' being discarded as useless, to say
nothing of the annoyance of weak places in
fences, the intrusion of cattle in cornfield
and the constant repairs required.
Though strongly opposed at first, in all
communities where "stock laws" are en-.
forced, the farmers soon begin to prefer
the system. and derive many advantages
therefrom. The Agricultural Commission
ers of Georgia "a State which has until re-
cent compelled the farmers to fence their
J, IcpUitS ludl SliiCe Tue
of the stock laws, and the stock kept at
home, the cattle have improved, the scrubs
have diminished, The cows give more milk,
the calves thrive better, the hogs are of bet
ter breeds, disputes among the neighbors
have ceased over fences, crops are 30 per
cent. larger, and greater prosperity is
noticed in all the counties under its opera
ton, compared with those that have not ac-
cepted it. The cost of feeding is lessened
NTH xa,r
quality of stock, and the amount of manure
made and saved is an item that will also
compensate for any supposed benefit de-
rived when stock went roaming at will
Philadelphia Record.
MATURING ORCHARDS.
After many long-continued experiments,
we find barn manure on the whole the
cheapest and most reliable fertilizer for
bearing apple orchards. There are, indeed,
some localities when special substances are
needed, but good deal of experimenting
is required to learn what they are for each
kind of soil. We have known young pear
trees in certain places almost doubled in
growth by the application of potash when
this substance was naturally deficient in
the soil, and we have seen it applied to
other soils planted with young pear trees
when it did not produce any visible effect.
Nearly the same result has been observed
with superphosphate with other crops. Barn
manure succeeds with few exceptions than
most other fertilizers. William Somerville
reported to the Minnesota Horticultural
Society that he was in the practice of haal-
ing out forty wagon loads of manure to the
acre on his bearing orchards every year,
and spreading it broadcast. Under this
treatment he has trees % years old that are
as thrifty es they were twenty years ago.
He had last season four tons of apples from
an Oldenburg orchard seven by nine rods
in size, a result ascribed to heavy manuring
and mulching. He does not manure young
trees heavily, Bat as they come into bear
ing they are exhausted unless additional
fertilizing is given, and this necessity in
creases as they grow older Country Gentle
man.
ARTIFICIAL MATCHING IN EGYPT.
The United States Consul-Generai in
Egypt in report recently published, de-
scribes the system of Matching eggs by artifi-
cial heat pursued in that country from time
immemorial, and still in active operation.
One establishment visited by the Consul
General was wholly constructed of sun
dried bricks, mortar and earth. 1t was
seventy feet long, sixty feet wide and six
teen feet high, and was provided with
twelve compartments or incubators, each
capable of Matching 1900 eggs, or altogether
10000 at one time. The season begins in
March and lasts until May, and three
patches are hatched in this time. each tax
ing an average of three weeks. The fourth
week is given to removing the chickens,
and preparing the incubators for a new
batch of eggs. The number of eggs treated
at this establishment in single season was
therefore 10000. from which $4,000
chickens are usually obtained. The per-
centage of chickens would be greater but
hat he iyle inS topa
cured from long distances and in large
quantities. and are therefore liable to dam
age. The price of eggs is 24d per dozen.
and chickens just issued from the shell are
sold at I'D per dozen. The loss of chickens
after incubation is comparatively small.
The whole staff of the place is man and
boy, who keep up the fires to tempera-
ture of not less than 9S0 Fahr., arrange the
eggs move them four or five times in the
twenty-four hours, look after the chickens.
and hand them over to the buyers. The
number OF chickens Matched in this man
ner throughout Egypt is estimated at
75,0000 900, and would, under ordinary cir
cumstances, require 100000 mothers.
CANNING SWEET POTATOES.
Canning sweet potatoes is becoming
quite an industry with the factories of this
city. Most of these works are now busily
engaged in this line. Perhaps few words
on the process of canning them, as done
by the Cumberland Packing Company,
would not be smiss: The potatoes are first
washed clean in cold water, and then
taken in baskets to the large tanks and
placed in, baskets and potatoes, and the
lids fastened down. Here they go through
the steaming process, and are then taken
out, put on trays and skinned by women.
They are then ready for packing in cans.
AS many as can be conveniently put in
whole are done so, and the can is filled
and sealed. The process is simple, but the