FARMERS REGISTER— EFFECTS OF GATHERING FODDER. 



609 



tance, above a line drawn from one to the other 

 of the spread ends of the phiiiks. The space 

 below tlie collar beam, is the size of a sectioji of 

 tlie wall, and is used as a measure to preserve 

 that si/:e. Another pair of similar planks are put 

 together in precisely the same manner — and then 

 these two corresiionding parls, or ends, are united 

 by a piece of scantling 15 feet long, which runs 

 firom the middle of one collar beam to the middle 

 of the other. When thus united, the two rafter 

 shaped ends of the tl'ame should stand uj)right on 

 their leet, and be parallel to each other. Two 

 side planks 12 inches wide, and as long as the 

 whole li'ame, are then laid outside of, and lying 

 against the spread legs of the frame. These 

 ))ianks are to direct the placing of the. stones for 

 the sides of the wiill. They are kept close to the 

 legs of the fi'ame, by other pieces of plank which 

 are attached outside oi] and parallel to each of the 

 legs, and separated from them 1^ inches by small 

 blocks. The long side planks may be raised or 

 lowered, and yet are kept in place by these outer 

 pieces — and by holes and pins, arelastened at any 

 desired height. 



The Iranie is used by being placed over the line 

 of the intended Icnce, the side jjlanks being then 

 at bottom, and equally distant from the central 

 line of the Ibundation of the wall. I first haul my 

 rock in place in a line parallel with the foundation 

 of my fence. The frame is then moved in place 

 Vidiere the fence is to commence, the two side 

 planks resting upon the ground. Two laborers, one 

 on each side, place the rock, carefully touching the 

 side j)lanks from one end to the other, whilst others 

 are emjjloj-ed throwing in rock in the intermediate 

 .space, without being par'dcular in placing them, from 

 which the two hands before mentioned select such 

 rock as is most suitable for the case of the \vall: 

 for if this is put up judicioissly, ir matters not how 

 the inner stones are placed. When fhe rock is 

 upon a level with, j^our side planks, take out the 

 pins v/hich fasten the side planks, and slip them 

 one hole higher; then proceed to place the rock as 

 before, continuing to move your side planks as the 

 rock is level with the upper edge, until your wall 

 touches the scantling. Then, with a man at each 

 foot of the fi-ame lift it up a foot or two, and move 

 it fbr-ward. In this way I have had from thirty to 

 thirty-five yards of fencing made in a day by ten or 

 twelve hands. I would here mention that the 

 hands emjdoyed in filling up, or throwing in rock, 

 do it with hand barrows — which enables them to 

 do it much more expeditiously than by hand. I 

 build m\' fence upon the surface of the ground, 

 Vv^ithout digging a ditch, in consequence of having 

 a stony foundation on the margin of the river. 1 

 think there would be no necessity for digging a 

 ditch where the fiance is on level ground, t^hough 

 not stony: but I think it would be necessary where 

 the ground slopes, as the action of the frost would 

 be apt to undermine the lovv"cr side of the wall. 

 i should judge that four inches would be sufucient- 

 ly deep lor the foundation. It has been several 

 years since I commenced stone fencing, not a foot 

 of v.-hich has fallen. At the end of the wall or 

 fence where I have a gate, I prociu'e, if practica- 

 ble, square stone to [;ut in; as the round stone if 

 put u() perpendicular is apt to give v^^ay. 



In answer to the second queiy, I have to say 

 that I have been in the habit of mixing ashes with 

 my plaster, in equal parts, and sowmg after being 



mixed, the same quantity by measure as I usually 

 sowed of plaster alone. I have ibund equal bene- 

 fit from the a.-hes and })last('r as from the plaster 

 alone, wliich is a saving of fifty per cent, in plas- 

 ter. I prefer the ashes damji: this will enable you 

 to sow v^ith more regulariiy, and in moderately 

 windy weather. 



c. 



O.V Tlir. EFrECTS OF GATHERING FODDER 

 ON CORN — REAPING WHEAT GREEN. 



To the EJitor oI" U;c Fanners' Kogister. 



Prince Edward, 24th JarMciry, 1835. 



The subject of stripping Indian corn blades 

 and top,ping the corn, as practised generallj'in this 

 part of Virginia, having been noticed several times 

 in the Farmers' Register, it has occui red to me, 

 that it may not be improper to add my experience 

 on the subject. I hav^c for many years been sat- 

 isfied that it is very unprofitable manageinent. 

 Though I practise it, with a view of supplying a 

 sufficient quantity of fodder for my stock, I am 

 constrained to acknowledge, that it is nothing but 

 sheer negligence in providing other means oi' sup- 

 plying fodder or hay, that induces me to do so 

 from year to j^ear. I will give you as neai'ly as 

 my memory serves, the result of an experiment 

 made by me when a lad, under the sjiecial direc- 

 tion of my father, -ivho made a record of this ex- 

 periment, as well as of a great many others, 

 which would now probably be very usefid, but 

 v^Iiich Vv'ere all lost or destroyed by his servants, 

 during the latter declining years of his life. I 

 cannot pretend to remember accurately the quan- 

 tities of corn and fodder jiroduced in the experi- 

 ment which was made more than thirty } ears 

 ago, and is nearly as ibllovv's: 



Thirty-nine rows of corn, 60 hills long, 5J- feet 

 each way, and two stalks in each hill, were plant- 

 ed on tolerably good land, and cultivated as com- 

 mon, till it was thought the proiier time for pulling 

 fodder. I then carefully pulled the fodder oft' of 

 each first and second row alternately through the 

 piece, leaving each third row to stand with all the 

 fodder and toj^s on, till perfectly dry. When it 

 was thought the proper time, I cut the tops off of 

 each first row, so that there were 13 rov/s of corn 

 with fodder pulled and tops cut, 13 rows with fod- 

 der pulled off to one blade above the ear and tops 

 left till dry, and 13 rows from which neither fod- 

 der nor toj53 were taken at all. Each parcel of 

 fodder was cured and kept ap^art from the other, 

 ;md the blades were stripped fi'om the tops of each 

 first row, at the time of cutting the tops; and 

 when cured, put with the fodiler that had been 

 pulled from the same rows. Each p-arccl of corn 

 was gathered, and when perfectly dry, slielled and 

 \veighod separately, and the fodder from tlie 13 

 first rov/s, and that ii'om the 13 second rows, each 

 weighed separately. The quantity of corn raised 

 from the 13 first rov.'s, from Vidiich tlie fodder was 

 nulled and the tops cut, was considerably less than 

 that raised on the 13 second rows, from which the 

 fodder was pulled and the tops left standing till 

 dry, and still much less than the corn raised on 

 the 13 third rows, on which both fodder and tops 

 were left till perfectly dry. The quantity of corn 

 raised on the 13 third rows, Vv'eighed a few ounces 

 more than the corn and fodder both together, 



