FARMERS' REGISTER. 



li 



ofcotton. Valuino; the sugar at five cents and the 

 cotton at len, we have a balance in lavor of sufrar 

 ofoiie-lhird, not considerino; the molasscf:, which 

 is generally sufficient lo deli-ay all the expenses 

 of ihri culiivaiion. Such we believe would he 

 nearly the state of the case if facts were obtained 

 and examined. 



Another circumstance in regard to this subject, 

 deserves the altention of the planter : that, while 

 the call lor home consumption is continually in- 

 cretising the ability on the part of the Ibreign 

 planter to aflbrd supplies, will probably continue 

 to diminish. It has been remarked by a writer in 

 the Boston Courrier, that the sugar business in the 

 British West Indies cannot thrive under the new 

 system of managing. And the rigorous measures 

 about to be enibrced agaitist the African slave 

 trade, will probably enhance the price of slaves in 

 the Spanish Islands, and diminish the amount of 

 sugar annually made. The natural increase of 

 slaves in Cuba lalls far short of the demand, on 

 account of the excessive hard labor to which they 

 are subjected. The men being worked during 

 eight months in the year, twenty hours out of the 

 twenty lour, and consequently are short-lived. 

 Every thing then seem to be in the fivor ol' the 

 sugar planter, and bids him lake courage. 



The subject, when viewed in the light of poli- 

 tical economy, or in tliat of individual interest, 

 carries with it a strong plea lor the attention and 

 study of the planter. 



VVere a part of the capitol and industry at pre- 

 sent embarked in the cotton trade transferred lo 

 the sugar line, the simple law of supniy and de- 

 mand would tie more eijual in its influences, in 

 both branches of trade of these great staples. 



ARTIFICIAL DIVISIONS OF THE FARM. 



From tlie Farmers' Cabinet, 



Fences in rural economy comprehend in general, 

 every sort of enclosure that is employed for shelter 

 — or designed lor the protection of I he lands thus 

 enclosed, from the intrusion of caitle. They are 

 of different kinds, depending on the various cir- 

 cumstances ofsoil, siiuaiion, the kinds of materials 

 at hand most suitable for the purpose, and the 

 convenience with which they may be obtained. 

 Where a country is entirely in tillage, it is of less 

 importance that farms be divided by artificial 

 barriers; but v/herever livestock is kept, this is 

 essential to the proper keeping of the animals, and 

 to the profitable occupation of the grounds ; and 

 besides the purpose of retaining and separating 

 animals of different kinds fi-om one another.* 

 Every person about to erect a fence should have 

 special regard to three essential points — durability, 

 economy, and neatness of appearance. 



" Poor fences are of incalculable mischief to the 

 farnr.er," They are Irequenily the means of dis- 

 turbing that good neighborhood, which would, 

 in many places, otherwise exist without interrup- 

 tion, if each farmer would attend to having his 

 fences well and substantially niade and kept con- 

 stantly in good order and repair. Unless fences 

 are made sufficiently high and strong, there can 

 be no safety to the crops— the cattle, selecting the 



* Low's Elements. 



weakest points are apt to break over them, and 

 thereby imbibe vicious habits. 



The descriptions of fiances and the method of 

 their construcijon, depend wholly upon the soil, 

 (he various kinds of materials at hand or most 

 readily obtained. There are a variety of kinds of 

 fences or enclosures used ; the log fence, the post 

 and rail, the worm or zig-zag, and the stone — 

 which, when the materials are on the ground, and 

 the fence is properly built, is by all means the most 

 dural)le, economical, and secure — the dilch, the 

 paling, and the live hedge. But in whatever 

 maimer, and of whatever materials they may be 

 constructed, they should be fiequenlly surveyed 

 with a critical eye, and all defects rectified without 

 the least delay. 



The growing and alarming scarcity of timber in 

 the United States, renders the enclosure of farms 

 a very expensive item. It therefore is the inter- 

 jest of the fiirmer to preserve his fences, now in 

 good condilion, as long as possible in that slate 

 j — and, in the construction of new ones to exercise 

 I economy, by having them erected, of whatever 

 materials, in a most substantial and durable man- 

 I ner. The saving of a lew dollars in the outlay, is 

 j only apparent, not real. We must not he under- 

 stood as advocating extravagance in this or any 

 1 other department of rural affairs — but we do main- 

 ■ tain that what is worth doing at all, is worth doing 

 well, and that, therefore, in the erection of fences, 

 the best and most durable materials should be se- 

 lected ; and the whole put together in a solid, sub- 

 stantial, and workmanlike manner. 



Almost every individual has an idea that he ful- 

 ly understands the process of making rail-fence, 

 which is a simple process, and yel, perhaps, not 

 more than one in twenty has any established 

 system or fixed rules, by which their operations 

 are to be controlled in this esseniial and important 

 department of fi\rm-labor. A v/riler in the Genesee 

 Farmer, says that no sight is to him more pleasing, 

 than a well made rail-fence. His system of con- 

 struction is briefly as follows : 



" To ascertain when a sufficient number of rails 

 have been drawn for a given distance of fence. 

 1.— If the fence is to be seven rails high, and 

 twelve leet long, place ihem in piles ofien each, in 

 a continuous line touching each other. 2. — Place, 

 in range, stakes or poles at intervals to designate 

 ihe line — prepare a pole seven or eight feet lonnr, 

 well sharpened at one end ; (the end ought by all 

 means to be pointed with iron.) At about eigh- 

 teen inches from the pointed end, fasten a rod at 

 right angles with the pole, and extending thence 

 from three feet, two, four, or six inches, according 

 as the fence is exposed to winds. Put down this 

 pole in a ranse with the poles designating ihe 

 line, and ihe end of the rod will show the "place 

 for the corner.— Place then, for a foundation, a 

 good sized flat stone, and you are ready to com- 

 mence operations. 3. — The bottom rad should 

 be straight — place the largest end forward on the 

 stone, and Ihe other end crossing the precedinor 

 rail at the end of the rod of ihe ranging pole, so 

 I hat the corners on each side be in exact line. 

 4. — Let ihe five followin<r rails be placed the 

 smallest end forward, and notched, if necessary 

 to make ihem lie sieadily. 5.— Let the top rail be 

 heavy and well notched, the largest end placed 

 forward, which completes the work, leaving your 

 fence level, and of equal height throughout." 



