The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-01-20

FIG, la WELL BRAoED CORNER POST
with two or three barbed wires on top.
This makes a fence that will turn any
kind Of stock from pigs TO horses.
There is little danger OF a horse get
ting into such fence and getting cut.
Where much stock is kept II will pay
to have the entire farm fenced with
this or some other kind OF fence that
is hog or sheep tight. II II not a ques.
tion Of whether you can afford II or
not; II Is question Of whether you
can afford not 10 do IT, Ii win prob
ably not be possible to fence all the
farm IN one year, but the work should
be done as rapidly as possible. The
extra feed the hogs and sheep will
pick up will pay the entire cost OF fenc'
ing IN 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
need renewal In three or four years Is
past. There are two ways Of secur-
ing lasting posts making rhem OF ce.
ment aud treating wooden posts with
creosote. Cement posts are not hard
to make. The first step Is TO make
wooden mold Of the proper size. About
six inches square at the bottom, taper
Ing to four at the top, IL very good
size. Three corpered strips should be
placed IN the bottom Of the molds to
make the corners OF the posts rounded.
A number OF nIOlds can be built side
by side. so that several posts can be
made at once The best mixture for
cement posts IL one part portland CO.
ment. two and one-half parts clean,
sharp sand and five parts gravel. The
sand and cement should be mixed dry.
Then add water and mix 10 a thick
mortar. After this is well mixed
spread II out In thin layer and spread
the required amount OF gravel over j.
Mix the whole mass well by shovellng
over several times
The inside OF the molds should De
creased with soft soap 10 keep the
from sticking. Spread about
one and one.half inches OF concrete
over the bottom and tamp II well
Near each corner lay a steel wire
Of the post. These re-en' |
forcing wires should be fairly heavy, |
but Will not need TO be galvanized, az
the concrete will keep them from rust.
Ing. They should be looped ot the
end to prevent slipping. Now add
up TO within an inch OF the
top OF the mold. tamp again and put
In Two more re-eDforcing wires. FIJI
the mold 10 the top, tamp and round
on the upper corners. Long staples
with the points bent q little 10 keep
them from pulling out should he stuck
Into the cement at the places where
The wires are 10 be fastened. After
The posts are set the wires can be
fastened 10 these staples by small
piece Of soft wire twisted through
hem.
After the cement has partially NJ
i should be covered with sand to
Keep II from drying out too rapidly
The posts should be sprInkied at least
,nce day for week, when they may
be taken from the molds and stored
iway IN moist sand 10 cure. II takes
,irty days for cement post 10 cure
properly aud II should not be set be-
'ore that time. In the meantime the
'and should be kept moist BY occa
,lonal sprinklings. The cost Of ma
erial for cement posts the size men
ioned and seven feet long IN not
more than % cents post. not count
ng the labor. When once 10 place
hey will last practically forever.
The method of treating wooden fence
osts with creosote Is very simple and
Inexpensive. Any Kind Of post IL suit
bic for use with this treatment In
eed, the poorest soft H@id posts last
he longest after b-.ing lni4afly treat
.. The alfparaius needed consists of
No small metal tanks. une ~ wnirb
arranged ~ Ihst a IRE caH be built
nder H. Both tanks are tilled two
lIrds fan ~ creosDte. which cAu be
ought BY the bnrrci az reasonable
lies The ereosDfe 10 one " llese
INKS is heated almost 10 boillrg. and
" posts. mhich must ~ well sea
med. are plaaed IN Il and left foi
Dout slS hours. Usually only the part
the post ~ is % 10 into the groano
treafed