16 IG. 



GEiNESEE FARMER. 



205 



most other nations in this, that our land is divided 

 into small parcels or estates, and is owned by 

 those who till it. The system of renting, or of 

 tenantry, so universal in most countries, is com- 

 paratively unknown with us, and where known 

 is a source of agitation and trouble. And here 

 let me say that I regard this feature of our coun- 

 try one of its chief glories, and the very best ev- 

 idence in favor of the stability and perpetuity 

 of our fj'ee institutions. There can, 1 imagine, 

 be little doubt of the beneficial influence of a dif- 

 fusion of landed property. He who (tVvns the 

 soil on which he treads, v,ho calls his home his 

 own, better loves that home, and feels more the 

 spirit and responsibility of a freeman. Not in- 

 deed that a tenant or a laborer who has not a title 

 for the land he works, can not or will not be a 

 good citizen ; but what I affirm is, ihat the in- 

 ducement to become a good citizen — to respect 

 and cherish the laws — to cherish and practice 

 the virtues of good neighborhood, and to make 

 all things about his home cheerful, and as they 

 should be — is greater on the part of iiim who has 

 a legal interest by ownership in the land he oc- 

 cupies, than he who lias not. This point will not 

 be contested. History and experience, in this 

 and other lands, is instructive on this point, and 

 strongly admonish us to guard against large ac- 

 cumulations of land, in the hands of single pro- 

 prietors. Nor do I think there is much to be 

 feared from this point, for many years, if ever, 

 in this country. 



In this country the term Farmer has a difler- 

 ent meaning than in the old world. Here the 

 general signification is, one who tills the soil 

 which he owns, and not one who works the land 

 of another. But when I speak of the farmer, I 

 wish to be understood as embracing all who till 

 the soil, and labor in the production of the fruits 

 of the earth — all the men and women who toil 

 and spin, and produce commodities of whatever 

 kind of which mother earth is the immediate 

 cau.se or foundation. — And this embraces full 

 three-fourths of the population of Western New 

 York — comprehends a la,rge part of the wealth 



Bnildingf Stone Wall. 



Mr. Editor: — In addition to what " H.,'' 

 and "A Farmer" say (in your August numl>er,) 

 about stone wall, I would remark that if I were 

 going to build a wall five feet high, I should plow 

 five furrows where I wanted Ihe fence to stand. 

 Then take a cast-iron scraper, and go on length- 

 wise, dipping in as ofcen as possible through the 

 whole length — then back again, and so on until 

 the ditch is of sufficient depth. About eight inch- 

 es I think sufficient in common soil, that is sub- 

 ject to heave ; — less in dry soil. Then haul the 

 largest stones that I can find, and fill the ditch 

 with them instead of small ones, for the reason 

 that frost is the great destroyer of stone wall. If 

 the ditch be filled with small stones, all the va- 

 cancies must in time fill with quick sand, and 

 the frost will heave the wall and of course cause 

 it to fall. Lay the large stones in the bottom, 

 and when the wall is finished plow the ground 

 over about three times to the wall, until a bank 

 is raised of sufficient depth to guard the founda- 

 tion from frost. 



If any man will be to the trouble of examining 

 the foundation of a wall that has fallen down, that 

 was laid on top of the earth, he will find the bot- 

 tom stone pitching out. The reason for this is 

 as follows : the frost had been under repeatedly, 

 and when it comes out in the spring it commences 

 on the outside first, and when past the centre of 

 the stone ihe earth or mud is .so soft that it imme- 

 diately settles, while the inside is on the frozen 

 ground ; this causes them to pitch out, and the 

 small stones in the middle follow up and hold 

 them in that position until the next year, and 

 then go through the same operation again. 



The form of a wall five feet high, to suit me 

 would be of this description : Three feet eight 

 inches at the bottom ; draw in 

 very fast at first, and slow at 

 the top. This will leave the 

 sides hollowing, similar to the 

 accompanying figure. A wall 

 laid in this manner must press 

 to the centre, and will never 



and resources of the State — and, as a consequence, i , , j -t- *i r ^ . i >. «. . ^j ,. ;♦ 



,, .. . , . 1 .1 r 111 bulge; and, if the frost does not get under it 



other things being equal, the farmers should ex- -if , , r ii 



ercise a controline influence in all matters ner- ^^\nV^ • * i -u i ir n -.i u j 



o ' if I were going to build half wall, with boards 



on top, it would be in this manner : Always in a 

 ditch, according to the soil ; two feet eight inch- 

 es wide at the bottom. Take 4 inch scantling 

 for posts ; set them on a flat stone on fop of the 

 earth ; take some pains to bind the wall each 

 side of the post. Build the wall two feet and 

 eight inches high ; nail on a board 14 inces wide ; 

 stone up each side of the board ten inches. This 

 steadies the whole fence. Bank as before men- 

 tioned. I have some fences built in this manner 

 five years ago, and they now look as though they 

 might stand forever. Of course you will want 

 another board on the top of the posts. 



Sodvs, Avg., 1816. En Dickinson. 



taining to the interests of the people 



Do they occupy this commanding position ? — 

 Do they, in the Legislation of the State and Na- 

 tion — in the Educational and Scientific enterpri- 

 zesof the day? And if ihey do not, what is the 

 reason? In my next 1 will pursue the inquiry. 



D. A. Ogden. 



Penn Yan, Aiigtist, 1846. 



No wonder that we love flowers, for in child- 

 hood they are the most cherished gift fi-om those 

 we love; through life they are retouching me- 

 mentoes of the past ; and in death they are dedi- 

 cated to our bier ! 



