THE GENESKE FAEMEB, 115 



either of the two modes of application. This is the only experiment on sandij soils we 

 ever made. in reference to this matter, and we confess it is anything but conclusive to our 

 own mind. On heavy loams we know for certain that there is nothing gained by applying 

 ammoniacal salts or guano in small doses at short intervals during the growing season. 

 This has been tried repeatedly without any advantage. The economic application of 

 guano and other ammoniacal compounds is occupying the attention of several eminent 

 scientific men at present. We have many theories on the subject, but very little practi- 

 cal experience. Any of our readers who have experience, bearing on this point, will 

 much advance the cause of agriculture by making them public. 

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WiKB Fexce. A3 it is now the time of year when the farmers have the least to do, and the time 



that they read most, and form their plans for the work of the next seasou, perhaps it will be well to 

 put something more before them on the subject of Wire Fencing. 



What has been written on this subject, and the plans that have been submitted for its construc- 

 tion have induced the building of many miles of wire fence ; but the most of it has proved to be of 

 little value to the farmer, and it is to be feared that they have about abandoned the idea of using it 

 as common fencing material ; therefore what I have to say as to the practicability of using wire to 

 construct cheap, strong, and durable fences, is said with diffidence. Still, with your permission, I 

 will tell my story, and give my plan ; for, like a great many others in the world, I do think that 

 my story will be instructive, and that my plan will be the best yet published for the construction of 

 wire fences, for the farmer's use. 



In the year 1850, by a combination of circumstances, it became necessary for me to build two 

 hundred rods'of fence in a short, time, and as I had not made preparation for any other kind, I 

 concluded to try wire fence. I obtained from New York a quantity of No. 10 annealed wire, and 

 had posts made from hemlock scantling, three inches by four inches square, and six feet in length, 

 which were nicely sharpened. Having these materials on the ground, I proceeded to draw a cord 

 on the line where the fence was to be, which being well drawn, and straight, was to be my guide 

 in makino- holes for the posts. Using an iron bar, I made holes about eighteen inches deep once in 

 every rod throughout the whole line. The posts were then placed upright in these holes and 

 driven with a sledge hammer until they stood just four feet cut of the ground, appearing as straight 

 and trim as a company of soldiers. Fine holes were then made through each of them with a "bit"' 

 three-eio-hths of an inch in diameter. These holes were six inches apart, and the upper one three 

 inches from the top of the posts. As the fence was to confine only horses and cattle, I supposed five 

 wires would be enough. The wires were then drawn into these holes. Whenever splicing was 

 necessary, it was done by binding the ends to be connected like staples, hooking them together and 

 then twisting the short legs around the long ones several times. This is the best way of splicing 

 wires that I have tried, and if it is well done they will rarely give out at the connection. 



At one end of the sections, the wires were passed through the post^ and then brought around and 

 tied strono-ly ; at the opposite end, they were tightened by a little machine, consisting of two pieces 

 of iron which I will describe as well as I can without drawings. An iron roUer is made four inches 

 long, and three-fourths of an inch in diameter, having a hole large enough to admit the wire, 

 punched through it an inch and a half from one end, and the other end squared an inch in length. 

 To this square end is fitted a washer four inches long, an eighth of an inch thick, and an inch and a 

 half wide with two small nail holes punched through one end — one of them near the end, and 

 the other two inches from it The square mortice to receive the roller is made at the opposite end. 

 These machines will cost one shilling each, and will last indefinitely. The manner in which the 

 wires were stretched is as follows : — A wire passed through the post and into the roller— the washer 



bein" on a wrench is applied, and the roller turned round until the wire is well tightened, when 



the washer is nailed to the post, by nails passing through the small holes. 



"When each wire was thus stretched and confined, I had a fence that appeared very neat and 

 strono-. Eighty rods of it enclosed a lane along which the dairy cows passed twice each day — so 

 the fence was used. During the first year I found that this fence was a good barrier against most 

 all my horses and cows, &c, — which means bulls and oxen — but that some of them would not be 

 confined by it. Some cows would get down on then- knees and crawl under it, and others would 

 f k put their heads between the wires, and by pressing heavily on the wire next under their necks 

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