J36 ASRICULTURAL E39AT3, 



•vvith the steam its finest flavor. Much fuel might therefore be 

 saved in Ifamilies, if in cooking no more fuel were used 

 than to keep the water just at the boiling point, besides the 

 victuals would be much better for it. 



Fei^ces. 



To fence a form in the most economical manner, and at the 

 same time the most secure and durable, is an object of great 

 j^nsideration to the farmer. While timber is plenty, but little 

 is often thought of the necessity of economy in this branch of 

 farming. But however great the supply of fencing timber may 

 be, or of stone suitable for wall, the labor necessary for furnish- 

 jng the materials at the places where they may be needed, for 

 erecting the fenee and keeping it in repair, constitutes the 

 greatest item of expense, which relates to this branch of farm- 

 ing. It has, therefore, been considered an important object 

 in older countries, and some parts of our own, to substitute 

 some kind of fence which might be more durable, and at the 

 same time perhaps not more expensive than any kind of wood- 

 en fence, other than such as are made to grow around the field 

 to be inclosed. For this purpose, hedges have been raised, 

 composed of different kinds of shrubs, in some parts of New- 

 England and the middle States. It has been found that the 

 white mulberry answers well tor this purpose, and is recom- 

 mended as having the peculiar advantage of affording food for 

 silk-worms, which may be either raised on the hedges, or the 

 leaves may be gathered to feed them. For making white muV- 

 berry hedges, Mr. De La Bigane directs that the plants, when 

 set, should have a year's growth, and be cut off about six inch- 

 es above ground, that their roots be taken off, and that they be 

 set five inches apart and eighteen inches deep in a ditch dug 

 for the purpose, and the earth thrown in upon them again. 

 This depth has been thought too great, and the distances be- 

 tween them too small, unless they are to be afterwards thinned 

 as they grow larger. He also directs that the shoots be cut off 

 the following spring, a little above ground, in order that they 

 acquire more strength, and shoot forth more branches ; and 

 l^nthey will form a good fence the third or fourth year, and 



