Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-12-29

Flo. LA WELL DBACRD CORNER roSr.
with two or three barbed wires on top.
This makes n fence that will turn any
kind OF stock from pigs 10 horses.
There is little danger of n horse get
ting into such fence and getting cut.
Where much stock is kept IL will pay
to have the entire farm fenced with
this or some other kind OF fence that
is hog or sheep tight. IL is not ques-
ton Of whether you can afford il or
not; il is a question OF whether you
can afford not TO do IT, IL will prob
ably not be possible to fence all the
farm in one year. bur the work should
be done as rapidly as possible. The
extra feed the hogs AMI sheep will
pick mp Will pay the entire cost Of fenc-
ing in a very few years.
Cement Posts.
The first part of the fence TO be put
up is the posts. The time for putting
UP cheap posts that will rot out and
heed renewal in three or four years Is
past. There are two ways OF secur-
ing lasting posts-making Them OF &C.
ment and treating wooden posts with
creosote. Cement posts are not hard
10 make The first step is 10 make a
wooden mold OF the proper size. About
six inches square ut the bottom. taper
ing 10 four at the top. is a very good
size. Three cornered strips should be
placed in the bottom of the molds 10
make the corners OF the posts rounded.
A number OF molds can he built side
by side. so that several posts can be
made at once. The best mixture for
cement posts is one part portland &c
ment. two and one-half parts clean
sharp sand and Eve parts gravel. The
sand and cement should be mixed dry
Then add water and mix TO n thick
mortar After this is we'll mixed
spread 1t out in n thin layer and spread
the required amount OF gravel over II
Mix the whole mass well by shoveline
over several times.
The inside OF the molds should bC
creased with soft soap TO keep the
cement from sticking. Spread about
one and one-half inches Of concret,
over the bottom and lamp il well
Near each corner lay a steel wire
lengthwise OF the post. These re-en
forcing wires should be fairly heavy
/ but will not need TO be galvanized, q!
| the concrete will keep them from rust
Ing. They should be looped at tn,
end TO prevent slipping. Now add
concrete up to within an inch OF tn,
top of the mold. lamp again and pu
IN two more reinforcing wires. FIJI
the mold TO the top, lamp and rount
off the upper corners. Long staple
with the points bent a little TO keel
them from pulling out should be stuc
into the cement at the places wher
the wires are TO be fastened. Afte
the posts are set the wires can b
fastened 10 these staples by a small
piece Of soft wire twisted through
them.
After the cement has partially Sc
It should be covered with sand (
keep it from drying out too rapidly
The posts should be sprinkled at leas
once day for week. when they ma
be taken from the mods and store
away in moist sand to cure. 1t take
sixty days for a cement post TO cur
properly. and 1t should not be set be
fore that time. In the meantime tn
sand should be kept moist by occa
sic"Hl sprinklings. The cost of ma
&c. ii for cement posts the size men
toned and seven feet long is no
more than - cents post not count
Ing the labor. When once In plac
they will last practically forever
The method OF treating wooden fence