318 



THE farmers' cabinet. 



VOL. I. 



very durable, except when exposed to high 

 winds. In exposed situations, the wall is 

 very liable to be thrown down, by the posts 

 acting with a great purchase upon it. 



Another way of making half wall, and I 

 think more durable, is of common field stone, 

 the thickness of wJiich is governed somewhat 

 by the quality of the stone — three feet high, 

 and surmounted by a pole of black ash or ce- 

 dar, sometnnes laid on blocks raising them 

 three or four inches above the stone, and at 

 other times small stones are laid so as to near- 

 ly cover the pole. Across this pole stakes 

 are driven once in twelve feet, and then ano- 

 ther pole laid in such a manner as to break 

 joints with the lower one. A fence made in 

 this manner, if the stone are well laid, will 

 not blow down, and 1 think far more durable 

 than the former. Stakes standing out from 

 the wall are objected to as unsightly, and per 

 haps they may be sometimes in the way in 

 ploughing. 



To prevent frost throwing the fence, flat 

 stones are laid slanting so that the water may 

 run off from them.. This I think important. 

 Another method I have seen practised, is 

 to lay turf between each layer of stone. This 

 adds to the appearance of a wall, and 1 think 

 when proper turf can be obtained, tends to 

 strengthen it, the moisture of the stone keep- 

 ing the turf from decaying. 



In conclusion I would remark, that the 

 materials for making half wall are much 

 more common than those who have never 

 made any wall would suppose. Let a farm- 

 er who has a field which he designs to 

 plough, draw oft' all the stone to one side of 

 the field before he commences. After the 

 field is ploughed, harrowed and sown, and 

 before he goes on with the roller, let him go 

 over it again with his stone boat; and follow 

 this practice for two or three years, and if he 

 does not have stone enough to make a half 

 wall on one side of his field, he will have at 

 least very much improved the appearance of 

 it. — Genesee Farmer. 



Culture of RhuTiarlJ, or Pie PIant> 



As the season is now at hand for sowing 

 and planting this most excellent vegetable, 

 the annexed communication of Mr. Edward 

 Sayers is very opportune. To those who have 

 cultivated it, or partaken of tarts made from 

 it, we need not dwell upon its excellence, 

 but to such as are unacquainted with it, we 

 will remark, that as a material for deserts it 

 is unexcelled by any other plant or fruit that 

 grows. For such purposes many prefer it to 

 the gooseberry, and indeed, when its virtues 

 in a medical point of view are taken into the 

 account, we hold it as a duty for every parent 

 to keep a few roots in his garden, as while it 

 answers for the purpose of preparing one of 



the most excellent tarts that can be made, its 

 curative powers in the summer complaint of. 

 children, and indeed, in all atlectionsof the 

 bowels, either in the young or adult, should 

 commend it to general culture. While tarts 

 compounded from it, serve either to remove 

 or prevent such diseases, those made from 

 other materials exert an injurious influence. 

 — Bait Far. 



I From the American Gadener's Magazine.] 

 CULTURE OF THE PIE PLANT, OR RHUBARB. 



The pie Rhubarb is one of the best know 

 subsiitutes for green gooseberry tarts, in the 

 early part of ihe spring, and by many persons 

 is greatly preferred in wholesomeness and 

 flavor. This excellent vegetable has been 

 cultivated in the vicinity of large cities, in 

 most countries, where it has always found a 

 steady demand, as a market vegetable, and in 

 private gardens it is always the first con- 

 sideration. 



Culture and Management. — The rhubarb 

 is of easy culture, and very hardy, which ren- 

 ders it peculiarly adapted to this climate. It 

 may be propagated either by seed or cuttings. 

 The seed may be early sown in the spring, on 

 the west border in drills, eighteen inches apart, 

 and managed in usual way of culture : the 

 plants will be of a sufficient size to remove 

 into a stationary bed, in the month of October, 

 which is the best time for planting rhubarb. 

 The method I have generally followed, and 

 found to answer best, in making new planta- 

 tions, is, by dividing the old roots and crowns, 

 in such a manner that each set has one or 

 more eyes. These sets I plant in nursery 

 rows, two feet apart, and one foot from each 

 other in the rows, in the spring, and remove 

 them into their stationary bed in the fall. 



Preparing and Planting. — The ground 

 intended should be well prepared by manur- 

 ing and trenching, as the rhubarb requires 

 deep rich soil ; this done, the bed moy be di- 

 vided into rows four feet apart each way, and 

 at the angles the soil may be taken out of the 

 depth of eighteen inches into which may be 

 planted one large root entire, which is to be 

 covered with at least half of a wheelbarrow of 

 well rotted manure, when the surface may be 

 levelled. The after management of rhubarb 

 requires good culture, as manuring, keeping 

 clean, &c. If the Plants are slightly pro- 

 tected, in the fall, with a quantity of manure, 

 they will be benefitted, and will also strength- 

 en their roots. 



The routine of planting rhubarb should be 

 every three years, as young plants always 

 produce the most tender stalks or canes. The 

 method I have adopted, is, to take up one-third 

 of my bed every year, by which I always 

 keep up a good succession of young plants. 

 Yours, Edward Savers. 



