270 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



the freezing point, the cream will rise very slowly, 

 because it becomes partially solidified. 



In wet and cold weather the milk is less rich 

 than in dry and warm ; and on that account more 

 cheese is obtained in cold than in warm, though 

 not in thundery weather. The season has its ef- 

 fects — the milk in the spring is supposed to be 

 best for calves, in summer it is best suited for 

 ■cheese, and in autumn the butter keeping better 

 than that of summer. Cows less frequently milked 

 than others give rich milk and consequently much 

 better. The morning's milk is richer than the 

 evening's. The last drawn milk of each milking, 

 at all times and seasons, is richer than the first 

 drawn, which is the poorest. — Exchange -paper. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 WIRE FENCE. 



Mr. Editor : — In the New England Farmer 

 for May, there is an account of the proceed- 

 ings of the eleventh agricultural meeting at the 

 State House, Tuesday evening, March 30th, at 

 which Hon. J. E. Gray presided ; the subject for 

 discussion being the "Subdivision of Lands and 

 Fencing." 



The President, in the course of his remarks, af- 

 ter expressing his preference for stone walls as be- 

 ing the cheapest and most effectual fence, alluded 

 to Wickershanrs iron fence, which could be put up 

 for $1,25 a rod, and also to a good wire fence 

 which could be put up for less than 75 cts per rod. 



Now as every farmer has not the materials on 

 his farm, or within a convenient distance to build 

 stone walls, resort must be had to other modes of 

 fencing ; where a temporary fence is to be built, 

 the Virginia fence is frequently preferred ; but as 

 a permanent fence the cedar post and rail fence is 

 generally used. 



My object at this time is to learn where these 

 wire fences can be obtained, and whether it would 

 pay to purchase a wire fence costing from 75 cts. 

 to $1,25 per rod, in preference to purchasing posts 

 at 17 cts. each, and rails at $7,00 per hundred. 



Perhaps you, Mr. Editor, or some of your nu- 

 merous correspondents, can give the desired in- 

 formation, which will be thankfully received. 



If the wire fence could -supersede the zig-zag 

 fence, or even the post and rail fence, a great im- 

 provement would be made in the appearance of our 

 fields and pastures ; nothing is wanting to accom- 

 plish this, but to convince people that the wire 

 fence is the cheapest and most durable fence. 



April 19, 1852. n. 



Remarks. — Wickersham's wire fence may be ob- 

 tained of Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co., 

 at Quincy Hall, Boston. We have no doubt about 

 the economy of using wire fences wherever stones 

 are scarce and posts are seventeen or even twelve 

 cents each, and rails are seven dollars per hun- 

 dred. We have wire fence which has answered 

 all the purposes desired for a fence for two years, 

 herding cattle in a pasture on one §ide of it, while 

 on the other there was a heavy growth of clover. 

 The cattle put their heads through the wires and 

 fed the clover down as far as they could reach, but 

 never broke a wire. But it would be better to 

 place wires so thick at the bottom as to prevent 



their reaching through. The wire used was, we 

 think, No. 6, at six anda half cents apound. On- 

 ly two posts are necessary for any distance, if the 

 ground is tolerably level ; one at each end. Set 

 a stout post, so deep and strong that you are sure 

 of its remaining firm when you straighten up the 

 wires. Bore the holes for the wires, pass the end 

 of the bottom wire through, and wind round a 

 piece of dry hard wood ; then carry it to the post 

 at the other end. Now comes what has always 

 been found the difficult part of making wire fence 

 — that is, straightening the wires. But nothing 

 is more simple and easy, when we know how. The 

 hole is bored in the post and the ware passed 

 through some two feet. Take a round piece of 

 hard wood five or six inches in diameter, and eigh- 

 teen inches long, bore a hole near each end and 

 one in the middle ; pass the end of the wire through 

 the middle hole, place the stick or roller against 

 the post and turn the roller by means of iron pins 

 in the holes in the end of the roller. You will 

 soon find a power that will stretch or break any- 

 thing short of a common-sized mountain. When 

 you get the degree of tension desired, drive in a 

 plug of hard, dry wood, by the side of the wire, 

 unwind from the roller and fasten the end of the 

 wire around the post or a spike driven into it. Put 

 up the remaining wires in the same manner ; then 

 (your stake holes being previously dug two to three 

 feet deep) set your stakes twelve feet apart, saw 

 in their sides half an inch and rest the wires in 

 the saw marks, fastening them with a nail. With 

 good chestnut or cedar posts and stakes, and all 

 well put up and painted, we have no doubt such a 

 fence will last twenty-five years without much re- 

 pair. It is handsome, cheap and durable, and 

 may be made for less than fifty cents a rod. 



We first used a horse and pullies to straighten 

 the wire, but soon studied out the plan of the roll- 

 er, which we found to work to perfection. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 LOOK OUT FOR YOUR HORSES. 



Friend Brown : — A few words of caution in this 

 particular may prove very beneficial. Yes, I re- 

 peat, "Look out for your horses." There is no 

 animal in the service of man that needs or deserves 

 so good care as this noble animal. But I am sor- 

 ry to say he does not receive the kind treatment 

 and care he so justly deserves, save in a few in- 

 stances. Rare would lie the cases of diseases in 

 horses, if they had kind and humane masters to 

 take charge of them. True it is that nearly all 

 diseases with which horses are troubled in body 

 or limbs, are caused by carelessness and inatten- 

 tion on the part of their drivers. 



The disease of which you speak, called "scratch- 

 es, 1 '' is indeed a troublesome disease, and one if nut 

 seen to in season, that often proves very injurious 

 to the limbs of the animal. A person unacquaint- 

 ed with taking care of them, will often suffer hors- 

 es to go for weeks and months with swollen legs, 

 not knowing the cause. Certain it is that scratches 



