Fencing for J Foods. 637 



it on the inner side next the wood, making the fence exceedingly stiff 

 and firm. The wliole fence is easy to erect, and can be taken down, 

 removed, and re-erected in a fresh place in a few hours. If the iron be 

 well painted at starting and kept so, it is practically imperishable. In 

 my case the rails were of the best foreign timber, cut to the proper 

 lengths at the wood yard, but good larch would perhaps do as well. 

 The rails are spliced at the loops, not more than two of the four 

 meeting at the same post. The cost of this fencing varies with the 

 price of iron, but would not be above Is. a foot, including stay with 

 foot-plate. This is a very strong, useful fence, especially where it is 

 desirable to remove it after a few years. 



It has struck me that these two fences combined would make a 

 perfect and everlasting fence. Fix your uprights (and much lighter 

 ones might be used for bearing the barb fence than the wood rails) 

 with holes in them for staples, which would have to be made of soft 

 iron capable of being bent into the holes after the barb fence is laid 

 up to it, as, owing to the spikes the wires cannot be stretched through 

 holes. When the ends of the staples are drawn through the hole 

 with pincers they would have to be turned back to form a kind of 

 rivet. The wire merely wants supporting, as the fence being placed 

 against a wood, the cattle come against it on one side only, and in 

 fact dare not touch it for fear of the barbs. 



The iron uprights, with barb fence of four lines attached, would 

 last a lifetime, and would not cost more than Is. a yard. 



Flashi/, Tories. J. N. P. 



The Compass Plant.— It has long been known that the Western plant grow- 

 ing on the open prairies of America, and known as the Silpldam laciniatum, 

 has the property of turning many of its leaves nearly north and south, and 

 hence the name "compass plant." It is also called "rosinweed," from its 

 copious resinous juice. In order to determine to what extent this alleged 

 popularity exists, C. E. Bessey, of Auves, Iowa, has, says the Scientific Ameri- 

 can, made a large number of accurate observations, which he reports in a late 

 number of the American Naturalist. Out of ninety-three observations, fifty- 

 four were found which pointed more or less east of north, and thirty-nine 

 more or less west. Of the fifty-four which pointed eastwardly, eighteen were 

 ■within 5 deg. of north, eight more within 10 deg., seven more within 15 deg., 

 five more within 20 deg., and three more within 25 deg., leaving only fourteen 

 leaves which diverged more than 25 deg. from due north. Of the thirty-nine 

 which pointed to the west of north, nine were within 5 deg., five more within 

 10 deg., three more within 15 deg., seven more within 25 deg., and seven more 

 within o5 deg., leaving only eight which diverged more than 35 deg. from due 

 north. Its popularity is fully established in America. 



VOL. r. 2 Y 



