THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



87 



men in England, it was ascertained that 

 1 hey were the mothers of eight hundred 

 Lnd sixty-nine children. 



The presumption is, that these women 

 were tea drinkers habitually, and it is 

 equally inferrable that they did not drink 

 it very "weak;" yet they were healthy 

 enough to be old, and healthy enough to 

 be the mothers of large families. An iso- 

 lated fact proves nothing, but this one 

 is suggestive. 



It is then safer and healthier to take a 

 cup of warm tea for supper, than a glass 

 of cold water. With our habits of hearty 

 suppers, it is better to take a cup of warm tea 

 than to take no drink at all. 



By the extravagant use of tea, many 

 persons pass their nights in restlessness 

 and dreams, without being aware of the 

 cause of it. We advise such to experi- 

 ment on themselves, and omit the tea alto- 

 gether at supper, for a few times, and 

 notice the result. 



If you sleep better, it is clear that you 

 have been using too much tea, in quantity 

 or strength. 



In order to be definite, we consider the 

 following to be a moderate use of tea : a 

 single cup at each meal as to quantity; as 

 to strength, measure it thus : put a tea- 

 spoonful in a hot teapot, pour on a quart of 

 boiling water; two-thirds of a tea-cup of 

 of this, adding a third of cream, or boil- 

 ing milk, or hot water, with sugar or not ; 

 this is strong enough. 



Wo believe that such use of China teas, 

 by excluding cold drinks at our meals, and 

 by their nutritious and pleasantly stimula- 

 ting character, maybe practised for a life- 

 time to very great advantage, without any 

 drawback whatever: coffee also. 



We believe that the world and all that 

 is created upon it is for man, and that the 

 rational use of its good things will pro- 

 mote the health and happiness of all man- 

 kind. 



Hall's Journal of Health. 

 From the Prairie Farmer. 



Wire Fence. 



, Prairie Farmer: — I noticed in the Prai- 

 rie Farmer of November 26th an article under 

 the bond of "Wire Fence— Information Want- 

 ed, &c.," I propose to respond to the call : The 

 wire fence I consider the most durable and 

 cheap that can possibly be built. As regards 

 the number of wire, No. 9 is the best adapted 

 to fence building. For one hundred rods of 



fence, three wires will require three hundred 

 pounds — cost, $18 75. Four wires, four hun- 

 dred pounds — cost, $25 00. Five wires, five 

 hundred pounds, — cost, $31 25, For one hun- 

 dred rods of fence, two key posts at each end, 

 and one tie post in the centre — six inches 

 square, or larger, may be used ; then forty- 

 eight common posts set in the ground, thirty- 

 three feet apart ; then three spring posts, about 

 two inches square, between every two posts, 

 secured to hubs about twenty-two inches in 

 length, set in the ground with wire, of which 

 the fence is made. 



For tightening the wire, &c, — there are keys 

 and wrenches, made on purpose for the busi- 

 ness, and they render the process of construct- 

 ing fences very rapid. The above is a descrip- 

 tion of T. D. Burk's patent elastic, expansive 

 and contractive wire fence. Having been en- 

 gaged for quite a length of time in putting up 

 this kind of fence, on contracts, and in selling 

 rights for farms, towns and counties, I should 

 be very happy to furnish E. P. C, or any other 

 enquiring friend. Further information if de- 

 sired. Plans of the fence, &c., may be obtained 

 by addressing me at Onarga, Illinois. 



H. W. JUDKINS. 



Wire Fence. 



This brings to our remembrance a conversa- 

 tion we had the other day with Col. Horace 

 Capron, of McHenry Co., who called at our 

 office. His fence costs him 82 cents per rod. 

 He builds it of posts and wire, using No. 6 

 wire. Sets his posts 8 feet apart, runs his wire 

 through staples drove in each post, draws tight 

 and fastens at the end posts. He thinks there 

 is no necessity of an apparatus to regulate the 

 expansion and contraction of the wire, if it is 

 of sufficient size. He is a stock man, and has 

 his fence thoroughly tested by his cattle, and 

 those of others which roam the prairie. He 

 has had no trouble since using this size of wire, 

 and the cost for repairs is comparatively no- 

 thing. Take into account the labor of hauling, 

 handling, fitting, putting up and repairing a 

 board fence, and compare it with the ease with 

 which the wire fence is made, its durability 

 and beauty, and we cannot vote in favor of the 

 board fence. — Ibid. 



From the Valley Farmer. 



California Soap. 



Five lbs. of white bar soap, or yellow, if 

 white cannot be had ; four lbs. of sal soda ; one 

 half lb. of borax ; one ounce of ammonia, mix- 

 ed with twenty-five quarts of pure soft water, 

 rain-water is best. The water should be heated 

 and the soap is dissolved in it. The other ar- 

 ticles should be dissolved in a separate vessel 

 in a few quarts of water, a few quarts out of 

 the twenty-five quarts. When all is dissolved, 

 mix them, stirring the mess well as they are 

 poured together. 



