314 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Fencing Pbaikie Fakms. 

 Mr. James Hull, Girard, Kansas — Fencing is the great item of 

 expense in making a prairie farm, and retards its cultivation more 

 than all other causes. Wire makes the cheapest fence, but is nearly 

 worthless, as I have learned by dear experience. Two stands of iron 

 and one board will stop peaceable cattle, and only such. It costs sixty- 

 five cents per rod. A good substantial fence of boards, such as will 

 stop hogs and all cattle, will cost two and a half times that amount. 

 It is a matter of the first importance to a settler in selecting a farm 

 to do so when the soil and climate are suitable for growing live 

 fences, and also where, until such fences are grown, the owner of 

 stock is required to keep it from trespassing on his neighboring crops. 

 These will save him half of the expense in opening a farm. Dr. 

 Smith, in comment, alluded to the disadvantage of fencing at all, and 

 expressed the opinion that in the good time coming a better system 

 will be adopted. Dr. Jarvis made, in this connection, the startling 

 statement that tender plants cannot succeed well in windy places, 

 and he advocated setting rows of trees for protection. Colonel 

 Curtis urged the advantage of soiling as likely to be the distin- 

 guishing characteristic of the coming system of stock growing. 



A Well Constructed Cistern. 

 Mr. W. II. Fernald, York, Me., who said he had supervised the 

 building of a great many cisterns, gave the following in regard to 

 the sort that has given the best satisfaction : First excavate by the 

 side of the house or other building (not underneath it) eight, ten, or 

 twelve feet, according to the capacity desired, and from seven to nine 

 feet in diameter (circular to a level bottom). Where the pipes are to 

 come down go down eighteen inches deeper. When this is done, 

 clear out all the loose earth, and cement the bottom and sides up to 

 within two and a half feet of the surface. Then break back the earth, 

 and commence with brick and arch over, leaving a waste-way at the 

 side, and an aperture at the top twenty inches in diameter. Having 

 done this, bring down your pipes within three inches of the bottom. 

 Then commence with brick, laying them an inch and a half apart 

 (edgewise) in the first course, on the arc of the circle eighteen inches 

 from the side of the cistern. Carry them up about tvfo feet, and 

 arch over to the side, inclosing the pump-pipe or pipes, giving 

 the whole a thorough coat of cement, leaving open only the 

 apertures in first course. Then place carefully some small pebbles 

 to protect the openings, and fill up to the level of the bottom of 



