470 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



ground, if the ground is, or becomes wet, the wa- 

 ter immediately rises by capillary attraction up 

 through its natural channels into the body of the 

 post, thus becoming alternately wet and dry, and 

 causing it rapidly to decay. On the other hand, 

 if the top end is placed in the ground, the tenden- 

 cy of the water to pass upwards instantly closes 

 these valves, perfectly excluding the water, keep- 

 ing the post dry, and preserving it to a certain ex- 

 tent from the hand of time. 



In conclusion, T hope all who have occasion 

 hereafter to erect a fence of this character, will fol- 

 low the suggestions here given ; and my word for 

 it, they will never look upon it, as labor lost. 



North Pawlet, Vt, Sept. 1, 1862. Dike. 



NORTHERN SUGAR. 



It would be a singular result of the rebellion, if 

 the North and West should become independent 

 of the Southern climes in the articles of sugar and 

 cotton. The cotton culture will be tried next sea- 

 son in regions farther north than it ever was be- 

 fore, with what results time will show. The va- 

 rious products that will yield sugar will also be- 

 come more extensively sought after. 



The sorghum, the sugar beet and the rock 

 maple, are all demanding attention. They can all 

 be used in Maine and the other New England 

 States. The maple and the beet are at home in 

 the North, and the sorghum and imphee produce 

 abundantly in the Western States. The earlier 

 varieties of imphee will undoubtedly ripen in 

 Maine. 



The sorghum has already been proved in the 

 West, and its culture next season will be quad- 

 rupled. A Sorghum Convention was held at liock- 

 ford, 111., last Fall, where many samples of the 

 syrup and some sugar was exhibited and much 

 valuable information elicited, which will lead to 

 improvements both of culture and manufacture 

 the coming season. One individual had made 16 

 gallons of syrup from an acre. Another had made 

 100 gallons from three-fourths of an acre. Seven 

 gallons of juice made one of syrup. 



The Illinois Horticultural Society, at their 

 meeting held in Chicago not long ago, discus- 

 sion upon the subject of the production and man- 

 ufacture of sorghum syrup and sugar. Among 

 other interesting facts it appears that "The culti- 

 vation of the sugar cane in the Northwest is no 

 longer a matter of doubt. As high as 300 gallons 

 of syrup have been produced per acre. One hun- 

 dred and fifty gallons is a small yield ;" and it 

 was confidently asserted that they would soon 

 have a home supply and a surplus to export to 

 the Eastern States. 



Our farmers in northern New England should 

 be preparing themselves for the maple sugar cam- 

 paign. The time for it will soon be along, and 

 should be improved in every way possible. — 

 Maine Fuiirier. 



I ed off with clean cold water, applied to both sides. 



I The cleansing of silk is a very nice operation. 

 Most of the colors are liable to be extracted with 



I washing in hot suds, especially the blue and green 

 colors. A little alum dissolved in the last water 

 that is brushed on the silk, tends to prevent the 

 colors from running. Alcohol and camphene, mix- 

 ed together, is used for removing grease from 

 silk. — Scientific American, 



Washing Silk. — No person should ever wring 

 or crush a piece of silk when it is wet, because 

 the creases thus made will remain forever, if the 

 silk is thick and hard. The way to wash silk is 

 to spread it smoothly upon a clean board, rul) 

 with white soap upon it, and brush it with a clean 

 hard brush. The silk must be rubbed until the 

 grease is extracted, then the soap should be brush- 



INFLUENCE OF SUJNTLIGHT. 



A mistaken notion prevails with many that ani- 

 mals need little or no light while confined in the 

 stable. Physiologists declare that, other things he- 

 ing equal, families who occupy apartments on the 

 sunny side of dwellings arc the most healthy and 

 happy. Fresh air and sunlight are promotive of 

 health, and yet, in the construction of stables for 

 animals, many seem to forget that these requisites 

 are important. 



One would suppose that in localities where the 

 attention of farmers is almost exclusively devoted 

 to stock, anything connected with the manage- 

 ment of animals conducing to their health and 

 comfort would be the subject of thought. Yet, 

 how few even for a moment are Milling to give 

 this subject the attention it deserves. To suppose 

 that an animal, confined in a clark, damp, unven- 

 tilated stable, will thrive, and be able to yield the 

 same profit that it would if occupying a place the 

 reverse of these, is to sujjpose an impossibility. 

 Disease, though it may not at first be apparent to 

 the eye, is, nevertheless, doing its work, and in 

 some way will make itself felt to the loss of the 

 owner. 



Hogs that have their pens so made that the 

 sunlight can be freely admitted, thrive better and 

 are more easily fattened than when confined in 

 ])ens v.here the rays of the sun never penetrate. 

 So with horses. Serious diseases are engendered 

 from badly constructed stables. The horse is fond 

 of fresh air and light, and his stable should be pro- 

 vided with the means of thorough ventilation, and 

 the admission of the sun's rays ; he enjoys these 

 quite as much as his master, and it seems thought- 

 less and cruel to deprive so good a servant of that 

 which costs nothing, but yet serves to make him 

 happier and more contented with his lot in life. 

 Doubtless, animals, like men, have their gloomy 

 days in which things are turned topsy turvy, and 

 could their feelings be expressed in words, we 

 doubtless should hear sad stories of their being 

 compelled, under the whip, to do heavy and ex- 

 hausting work when sick, and of being deprived 

 of conrfbrts through the ignorance and thought- 

 lessness of those who have them in care. 



On the score of economy, we believe that it pays 

 to treat all animals kindly, and to provide them 

 with suitable buildings for shelter. We know from 

 actual experience, that the cow that has been win- 

 tered in a warm, dry, well ventilated stable, prop- 

 erly fed and cared for, will pay for all extra trouble 

 and labor, in the increased quantity and better 

 quality of milk yielded, through the summer fol- 

 lowing. When we hear of dairymen complaining 

 that the aiunuil yield of cheese ])er cow lias fallen 

 down to ;300 or 350 lbs., we have strong suspi- 

 cions that the fault lies somewhere in the keeping 

 or management of stock. We hold that a good 

 stable for stock should be provided with windows 



