456 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FARM FEjMCES— Wo. 3. 



Mr. Editor : — In a former communication 1 

 mentioned that I might say something about the 

 relative cost of fences, the quantity of hind they 

 cover, and the qualities one adapted to general 

 use should possess. In my estimate, I do not 

 claim perfect accuracy, as the cost of fencing will 

 of course vary in different places, according to the 

 price of lumber, the cost of labor, &c. These es- 

 timates will be taken in part from those made by 

 sensible and reliable men, and for the rest I shall 

 have to rely on my ov/n judgment. 



The average cost of the ordinary post and board 

 or post and rail fence is said to be about 80 cents 

 per rod, and the average duration of such fences 

 not more than ten years. 



The quantity of land covered by this fence will 

 not exceed two square feet to the rod, but the 

 plow cannot be run conveniently nearer than>to 

 within one foot of any fence, which makes a loss 

 of two feet in width on both sides of any fence 

 for tillage purposes. 



To enclose an acre of land 20 rods in length, 

 and 8 rods wide, would take 5G rods of fence. 



66 rods of fence, at 80 cents per rod $41,80 



Valuy or land covure I by f ,>nce, at $50 per acre 21 



Loss of land for tillage purposes 2,2 ) 



Cost offence and value of land covered by do $43,01 



Cost offence, and value of land lost for cultivation 47,01 



Average cost of wall fences $1 per rod — 56 rods $56,00 



Average wi;!th of do. 3ft., value of land covered by fence.. 3,17 

 Value of land out of reach of the plow 5,30 



Cost of fence and value of land covered by same $J3,1" 



Cost of do. and value of land lost for cultivation 61.30 



Average durability of fence 20 years. 



To build the zig-zag or Virginia fence, it is es- 

 timated, will require 14 rails per rod, and that 

 cedar or chestnut rails are worth $G per hundred, 

 which, witii drawing and building the fence, will 

 amount to $1 per rod. 



56 rods, at $1 per rod $56,00 



Loss of land on both sides would be nearly or quite 13,00 



Cost of fencs and loss of land for cultivation $69,00 



Probable duration 20 years. 



The cost of wire fences, as per schedule of 

 prices of the New York Wire Railing Co., is .$2,40 

 per rod, with posts and screws. 



For a fence 7 wires high this would amount to $134,40 



Value of land out of reach of the plow 2,20 



$136,00 



Here are figures which will enable any farmer 

 to see that improvement is very much needed in 

 this matter of fencing. The qualities a fence for 

 general use should possess, I will venture to sug- 

 gest, should be, in the first place, simplicity. Any 

 farmer with a little experience should be able to 

 build it. It should be cheap, in ordinary cases 

 not costing much more than the common post and 

 board fence, nor requiring more than 40 feet of 

 lumber to the rod. It should be straight ; no 

 "wavy lines," no zig-zag fence — the most crooked 

 thing the ingenuity of man has yet lieen able to 

 invent — shouhl be tolerated by any farmer whei-e 

 land and lumber are of much account, if a better 

 fence can be had. 



Farmers ! just think of 14 rails to the rod, and 

 $13 worth of land lost for cultivation, tn fencing 



an acre of land. "Rail Splitting" is certainly an 

 honorable occupation in some cases ; but a man's 

 energies had better be employed in something 

 else than in buildiugthis kind offence. It should 

 be firm, — it should be able to withstand both 

 winds and unruly cattle. It should keep its po- 

 sition on the very worst heaving soils, and resist 

 ordinary currents of water. And last but not least, 

 it should be durable. Every part of it should last 

 at least 30 years, in ordinary cases requiring, no 

 repairs. 



These are the requisites for a good farm fence, 

 and no farmer should be satisfied with one that 

 falls much short of them. Chas. R. Smith. 



Haverhill, N. IL, Aug., 1860. 



FATTETTING AOTIMALS- 

 SHEDS. 



-STALLS AND 



In Scotland, where everything in farming is re- 

 duced to system, several experiments have been 

 made in order to ascertain the relative value of 

 the two modes of fattening cattle, above named. 

 The animals were in one instance selected and 

 divided as near as possible in regard to weight, 

 &c.; five of them were placed in an enclosure well 

 sheltered, and allowed a sufficiency of room, and 

 the other five were placed in boxes or stalls. At 

 the commencement of October, it was ascertained 

 that those in the sheltered enclosure eat, daily, 

 one hundred and thirty-four pounds, while those 

 in the boxes or stalls consumed but one hundred 

 and twelve pounds, thus demonstrating the doc- 

 trine of Professor Liebig, that warmth is an 

 equivalent for food. 



Towards the end of April — the experiment hav- 

 ing occupied seven months — the animals were all 

 slaughtered, and the following results were noted 

 down : 



Cattle fed in boxes, beef, 3,462 lbs. 

 tallow, 376 lbs. 



Cattle fed in yards, beef, 3,216 lbs. 

 tallow, 301 lbs. 



The present is an appropriate time for the far- 

 mer to give attention to this matter, and we hope 

 experiments similar to the above will be made, 

 and the results made public. 



How Carrots affect Horses. — The carrot is 

 the most esteemed of all roots for its feeding 

 qualities. When analyzed, it gives but little more 

 solid matter than any other root, 85 per cent, be- 

 ing water ; but its influence in the stomach upon 

 the other articles of food is most favorable, con- 

 ducing to the most perfect digestion and assimi- 

 lation. The result, long known to practical men, 

 is explained by chemists as resulting from the 

 presence of a substance called pcc//ne, which op- 

 crates to coagulate or gelatinize vegetable solu- 

 tions, and this favors digestion in all cattle. — 

 Horses are especially benefited by the use of car- 

 rots. Thev should be fed to them frequently wfth 

 their other food, — American Stock Journal. 



