62 
WIRE FENCES, ETC. 
twenty-six half-inch holes through the bottom, 
six inches apart ; that is, two in each division. 
Over these holes, tack a piece of tin, through 
which make a hole, about three sixteenths of an 
inch, larger or smaller, until it is found by 
experiment, that it will sow just the quantity per 
acre that you desire. This implement is car- 
ried by a strap, around a man's neck, who shakes 
it as he walks, and sows a bed 15 feet wide. It 
appears to be not only a labor-saving implement, 
but a crop-increasing one. 
WIRE FENCES. 
We have so many enquiries addressed to us 
on the subject of wire fences, that we find it 
necessary to answer in a brief article. They 
possess several prominent advantages — economy 
of room, economy in expense, economy in repair, 
durability, and tastefulness. Wherever timber 
is not absolutely without value, a wire fence is 
cheaper than the commonest zig-zag, or Virginia- 
worm fence. It costs less than laying a stone 
wall, even if the stones were hauled gratuitously. 
The expense of keeping in repair is less than 
that of any hedge fence or wall, unless the 
latter is of the most massive kind, and it occu- 
pies, comparatively, no room. 
The durability of annealed wire, will probably 
equal that of any posts, though this fact has not 
yet been fully tested. Our belief, however, is, 
that it will last from 25 to 40 years, if annealed, 
and not exposed to the influence of salt spray, 
near the Atlantic coast. To obviate rusting in 
such situations, it may be covered with coal tar, 
or any of the cheaper kinds of paint. Galvan- 
ising adds' two and a half cents per pound, with- 
out materially increasing its durability. Anneal- 
ing is believed to be all that is required, to 
prevent injurious corrosion. 
To answer the numerous enquiries for the cost, 
weight, and sizes of wire, annealed and properly 
prepared for fences, we append the following 
table, published in the last volume of our paper. 
Class of 
Diameter in 
Weight per 
Weight per 
Retail 
wire. 
hundredths 
of an inch. 
lineal rod. 
lineal mile. 
prices per 
pound. 
No. 1 
0.32 
4 lbs. 2 oz. 
1321 lbs. 
$0.09 eta. 
2 
0.30 
3 " 10 " 
1166 '• 
0.09 " 
3 
0.27 
2 " 15 " 
944 " 
0.09 ■' 
4 
0.25 
2 ,: 8 " 
809 " 
0.09 " 
5 
0.24 
2 " 5 t; 
746 " 
0.09 " 
6 
0.22 
1 " 15 '.< 
027 " 
0.09 " 
7 
0.20 
I ,; 9 " 
518 « 
0.10 " 
8 
0.18 
1 " 4 " 
419 '■ 
0.10 " 
9 
0.10 
I " " 
331 " 
0.10 " 
10 
15 
'•' 14 " 
291 " 
0.11 " 
11 
0.13 
" 10 " 
219 " 
0.11 " 
12 
0.12 
" 9 " 
186 " 
0.11)4" 
13 
0.10 
" 6 ; ' 
129 " 
0.12K*' 
From 25 to 40 per cent, will be discounted 
from the foregoing prices, according to the 
quantity, when purchased by the coil. 
We reiterate an important fact, mentioned in 
a recent number of the Agriculturist. The 
linked ends of the wire should be bent while 
hot, although previously annealed ; but as this 
is required only where attached to the post, it 
takes but a moment of time, and it can be easily 
done, by having a small quantity of ignited char- 
coal in a light, portable furnace, or any small, 
iron kettle, in the field where required. 
The sizes of the wire, their space, and the dis- 
tance between the posts, should depend on the 
class of animals to be controlled. No. 6 wire 
will fence against cattle, horses, or swine ; and 
sometimes wire as small as Nos. 8 or 9, is used. 
Nos. 10 to 12 are sufficient to restrain sheep, or 
the young of any animals. If the wire is pro- 
perly stretched, posts may be at the distance 
of 100 feet; but some place them within 20 feet 
of each other. We cannot give advice as to the 
exact distances to place the posts. Every per- 
son putting up a wire fence, must be his own 
judge as to this matter, as there are so many dif- 
ferent circumstances to be taken into considera- 
tion, where the fence is to be put up. It may be 
fastened to each post, or not, but should be 
firmly secured at each end. For an ingenius 
way of doing so, see Col. Capron's plan, as 
detailed on page 255 and 256, of our eighth 
volume ; and for additional information on wire 
fences, see preceding volumes. 
LIME AND PLASTER AS MANURE. 
J. D. H., of Ulster county, has, for several 
years, used a mixture of lime and plaster of 
Paris on his corn fields, with the happiest results. 
He thoroughly mixes equal quantities of lime 
and plaster, and applies a large, table-spoonful 
of the compound to each hill of corn, immediately 
after planting. Thus the composition becomes 
partly incorporated with the soil, before the corn 
makes its appearance The good effect of this 
application is visible through every stage of the 
corn's progress ; and the crop comes to maturity 
several days sooner than it would without 
the application. 
J. D. H. gives his corn a second application 
of plaster at the time its sets, (the ears,) are form- 
ing, and is careful to sprinkle the plaster on the 
sets, and the adjacent parts. I am of opinion 
that the practice is a very good one, as both are 
good fertilisers. G. 
We think the beneficial effects of the above 
application, for the first season, is almost exclu- 
sively due to the plaster. The lime will be 
principally felt in the subsequent crops. 
A New Fertilizer. — The Hon. Henry A. Wise, 
of Virginia, informs us that he has discovered a 
new means of adding fertility to his land, in the 
use of sea sand. To one load of fresh stable 
manure, he adds three loads of sand, from the 
very surface of the beach, between high and low 
water marks ; with this he covers the pile of ma- 
nure, a few inches deep. The salt prevents fer- 
mentation in the heap ; the sand contains con- 
siderable fertilising property within it, from the 
shells, animalcule, and seaweed. He finds a load 
of this mixture to be far more valuable than a load 
of manure alone. It is an experiment so easily 
tried by all sea-side farmers, that we commend 
it to their notice. Salt muck is still more valu- 
able. 
