18 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Jan. 



WIRE FENCE -MODE OF MAKING, EXPENSE, ETC. 

 •: by airitoN adams. 



Messrs. Editors: — Having lately completed 

 twenty-four rods of wire fence, and knowing that 

 many farmers intend building such fence if it is°found 

 to answer a good purpose, I am induced to give a 

 detailed account of if, that others may profit by my 

 experience. 



In the first place I would premise that this fence 

 extends from my house (which is situated on a con- 

 siderable elevation,) to the highway, and is therefore 

 more expensive than ordinary fences upon the farm. 

 At each end of the fence I set a large cedar post 

 three feet in the ground, and brace it firmly in the 

 direction of the fence. The brace is about eight feet 

 long, and extends from the top of the post to a large 

 stone placed firmly in the ground. Two other cedar 

 posts are placed at unequal distances between the 

 outside posts, on account of the irregular descent of 

 the ground. All the other posts are of band iron 1| 

 inches wide, | inch thick, and placed one rod apart. 

 Intermediate posts are placed between these, extend- 

 ing only to the fifth wire, and made of half-inch band 

 iron. All of these posts are punched with holes for the 

 wires to pass through. The long posts pass through 

 large fiat stones and are clinched on the under side. 

 These stones are firmly bedded in the ground. The 

 posts should be fastened in these stones by pouring 

 around them melted lead or brimstone. 



The wires used are Nos. 10 and 12, and I am 

 confident these are the best sizes where a strong 

 fence is required. In building, I commence by run- 

 ning the upper wire through first, which is four feet 

 from the ground. The second wire is ten inches 

 below the upper, both of which are of No. 10 wire. 

 The third wire is eight inches below the second and 

 of No. 12 wire. The fourth wire is six inches below 

 the third and of No. 10 wire, and so alternating the 

 two sizes of wire to the bottom. The distances of 

 the remaining lower wires apart are 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 

 inches. The wires, after passing through the lower 

 post, are fastened firmly, which I did by passing 

 them through a strap of iron and coiling the ends. ° 

 I don't know that I can describe the manner of 

 straining the wires intelligibly, but I will try. At 

 the upper end of the fence, after the wires have passed 

 through the post, they also pass through a plank of 

 the sa me width and height. Each wire is then passed 

 through a roller 1| inches in diameter and 6 inches 

 long, having one end tenanted for a crank. A board 

 of the length and width of the plank is placed upon 

 these rollers. After each wire is strained by turning 

 the rollers, a pin is passed through the board and 

 roller into the plank, which fastens them firmly. 

 The wires will contract some in cold weather and 

 should not be drawn too tight, at first. 



As to the expense, I can not be as definite as I 

 could wish, as some of the wire purchased was too 

 small. I have used about 110 lbs. of wire, costing 

 0. Twenty iron posts at 6 cts. each, $1,25 • 20 

 short, posts at 3 cts. each, 60 cts ; 4 cedar posts ftl, 

 making $4; painting $1 -making an amount of 



Since the fence was completed I have had it broken 

 through once by an ox racing with a horseman— 

 I have found that the wires break only where the 

 ends are looped together. I have sinee joined them 

 by flattening the ends, laying them together and 

 winding them for four inches with a small wire' 



This is the manner of joining them at the Niagara 

 Suspension Bridge. The wires of this bridge are 

 boiled in linseed oil, which forms an impervious 

 coating, and probably toughens the wire 



As to the strength of the fence, I think it sufficient 

 to withstand any ordinary pressure. Wires of the 

 same size at the Suspension Bridge are each strained 

 to a tension of 1500 lbs. The great objection to 

 this fence, in the minds of many people, is its beino- 

 invisible. This is why I like it, as it does not mar 

 the beauty of the landscape. 



In conclusion I would say that I like this fence 

 because the winds make no impression upon it — no 

 snow banks form beside it— it occupies no space- 

 costs less than the painting of a good board fence 

 and, although invisible, looks beautifully when the 

 ground is covered with snow ; and as to its durability, 

 rf wire bridges will endure, surely wire fence* will 

 last an age. East Bloomjield, J\\ F, Dec, 1848. 



SEEDING WITH CLOVER.- LUCERNE. 



BY F. W. LAY. 



Messrs. Editors :— As this is the time of year 

 in which farmers are, or at least should be, making 

 calculations and plans for the coming season, it may 

 not be amiss to state one fact in relation to seeding 

 with clover. & 



I believe it is not generally known among agricul- 

 turists that when wheat is sown in the fall with one 

 plowing, as in wheat after oats or barley, or a clover 

 sod turned over, that clover will not grow and live 

 if sown on the ground in the spring after. It 

 will vegetate and seem to start well, but will soon 

 wither and die. I have noticed this in repeated 

 instances, both among my own crops and those of 

 my neighbors. Why it is, I leave with those who 

 have more time to examine the subject to determine. 

 (Can t Dr. Lee tell us ?) I think this of considerable 

 importance to be known, as many lose not only the 

 trouble and expense of procuring and sowing the 

 seed, but are also disappointed in their calculations 

 ot crops and rotations. It may be that on some soils 

 and under some circumstances clover may grow, but 

 in my observations for the last six years I have never 

 known it to come to any thing. 



I see by the last Farmer that you think Lucerne 

 can be cultivated and made profitable. Have you 

 ever seen it tried to any extent in this country » 

 borne time since I visited the farm of Mr. Robinson 

 in Ilartlanu, Niagara county, an English gentleman! 

 and one of the best farmers and most successful 

 experimentalists that I have ever seen. He told me 

 that lie had considerable experience with Lucerne, 

 bom in this country and in Europe, and had entirely 

 abandoned it as not adapted to our soil and climate. 

 I should like to see statements from any person w ho 

 has tried it extensively, together with 'the result.— 

 Greece, JY. F., Dec, 1848. 



Drain all your lands, that the surface may be 

 laid level. Never resort to open or surface drains 

 if you can help it; they create much water, espe- 

 cially in grass lands. Some meadows are absolutely 

 spoiled by surface draining. 



Ground that is to be vacant in winter time should 

 always be left rough or in ridges. The more the 

 frost can penetrate it, the better it is. If the whole 

 depth of a spade could be frozen through, it would 

 be as good as a coat of dung. 





