80 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. . 
BOEDER WORK FOR THE PLANTATION. 
Messrs. Editors — Much has been said in former num- 
bers of the Southern Cultivator about ditching, wire fences 
and hedging, for the purpose of turning stock from the 
plantation, and but little about the common rail fence. All 
this is expedient and right, particularly where timber is 
scarce, but where rail timber can be had rail fences will 
be made, as everybody can make them free of expense as 
to hiring. I therefore propose giving the readers of your 
journal my views about the latter kind of fence, and I 
give as my reason our large acquisition of fertile Territory 
now rapidly coming into cultivation. This necessarily 
will be the means of keeping up that kind of fence for a 
great number of years to come ; therefore, should we not 
economise with our timber whilst we have it % it being too 
late to commence after it is exhausted. I presume it will 
hardly be necessary for me to say that the usual length 
of rails are 10 1-2 feet, and sufficient crook given in the 
W'orm to make a steady fence ; but most persons are of 
opinion that large rails are preferable. This I think a 
mistake. There should be no more large rails made than 
to give weight sufficient to steady the fence, say the two 
top courses. And why should a small rail last longer than 
a large one "I Because when a small rail gets wet it dries 
through before decay takes place; whilst a large one, 
when thoroughly wet through, never gets dry, and, of 
course, must decay. Some may say that small rails will 
wash away sooner by the rains. Well, I have had them 
washed by the rains fourteen years, whilst large ones have 
rotted in seven. This is from experience. Still all rails 
will rot by suffering green timber or bushes to hang over 
the fence. This can be easily remedied and made a mat- 
ter of great convenience at the same time, by clearing a 
road, say 20 feet wide, on the outside, taking every tree 
out. Ifthis is done when a field is first cleared, all the 
rail timber taken from the road can be used in the fence, 
and not a good tree be lost. This will also let the sun to 
the fence, and by keeping the corners clean, wtiich every 
good farmer will do, causes it to last twice as long as 
otherwise, and will alone pay for making the road. It 
will also pay for itself in the convenience of getting 
around the plantation to reset the fence when needed (for 
all old fences should be reset every third year). It will 
more than pay for the making in the produce of the farm ; 
for who can make corn or cotton under trees 1 And it 
will pay for itself in keeping squirrels off your corn ; for 
they are not near so likely to cross a road to get to it. A 
road is also a great safe-guard in keeping off fire. 1 have 
known some persons to have their fences clogged up with 
briars and bushes so thick that in time of fire many parts 
could not be reached in time to save it. They may not 
have fought fire as long, but I have known them to fight 
it as hard as Gen. Taylor did the Mexicans at the battle 
of Buena Vista and lose their fence at last-— all for the 
want of a road, which should be cleared around large 
plantations, for the convenience of the neighbors, if for no 
other purpose. 
The above plan of keeping up rail fences, Messrs. Edi- 
tors, I think is economizing instead of doing useless labor. 
I have tried it and invite others to do likewise, and to bear 
in mind that small rails will last twice as long as large 
ones. Some make their rails so large that they have to be 
notched down, like a cabin, to keep hogs out — there is no 
necessity for all this labor, when the rails are made small. 
It is also a saving of timber when made small ; therefore, 
small rails with the fence corners kept clean and a road 
on the outside, saves timber, time, and money, and also 
makes it much more pleasant in getting around the plan- 
tation. As usual, yours, E. Jinkins. 
Horse Pen^ Choctaw Co., Mi&s., Dec., 1854. 
Lime should be accessible to poultry. 
POST OAK GLADE LAND, AGAIN. 
Messrs. Editors — I find in the October number of the- 
Southern Cultivator inquiries made of you, by “A Sub- 
scriber,” dated Clinton, Texas, 1854, as to “Po.st Oak Glade 
Land in T exas.” He says : “I want to know whether or 
not there is any method of reclaiming what we call ‘Post 
Oak Glade’ which is a wet land of whitish or ashy color, 
most of the growth being Post Oak, with a few scattering 
Pines.” He further says ; “Such lands are apt to bake 
after heavy rains.” I think your advice to “A Subscri- 
ber” is somewhat injudicious, and hence this communica- 
tion. “A Subscriber” seems to be a young or new farmer 
You remark, “Post Oak Glade land is generally better 
adapted to grass than any other crop.” In this I think you 
are wrong. I take it, this quality of land is better adapt- 
ed to cotton than any other crop. I suppose it has too 
many silicates already without the use of lime. 
Will “A Subscriber” try 10 acres on my plan 1 It wilt 
cost him nothing. Bed up the land in the spring, 5 inches- 
deep, and that is very deep, (though I do not suppose ho 
will think it deejD until he puts the rule to it) elevating 
his bed as high as a “dagon” plow of this depth wilt 
do; plant on the top of the bed, covering shallow. 
In this county, I would not plant his land before the 1st of 
May ; with him I advise him to plant at least one month 
after other planters. In cultivation, never go more than 
I 1-2 inches below the surface, and in the latter part of 
cultivation, below 1 inch from the surface; cultivate either 
with a cultivator or with a sweep, cutting as deep at the- 
outside of the wungs as the point. 
I am mistaken if “A Subscriber” will justly pursue this 
plan, if he does not gather from 1000 to 3000 pounds per 
acre. I am also mistaken from his description of his “Post 
Oak Glade Land in Texas” if it is not the very best cotton- 
land in Texas. If I am right in the character of his land,, 
it is a cold land, one on which, by ordinary culture, a 
good stand of cotton cannot be obtained. “A Subscriber’^ 
must not plant this land until hot weather has set in, and 
then only by elevating the plant above the level, and as; 
far above as he can with 5 inches depth of bedding. I do 
not write to come in contact with your opinions, for I do- 
testify I have been much benefitted by them. I only hope 
to benefit a brother planter, which I look on as my neigh- 
bor, although living in Texas. 
Very respectfully your friend, 
Jas. Thomas. 
Lancaster, Hancock Co., {near Sparta) Nov., 1854. 
Lime on Corn. — I have just concluded an experiment 
with lime on a field of corn, which may be worthy of no- 
tice. As the corn was coming up, I applied about half a 
Dint of slaked lime to each hill, with the exception of four 
rows near the middle of the field, which were left that I 
might see whether or no liming in the hill was beneficial 
to the crop. The after treatment was the same during the 
season. 
Harvested separately the four rows unlimed, and also 
adjoining them four that were limed, (soil and situation 
being precisely the same) and the result was an increase 
of a little over one-eighth in the amount of corn in favor 
of that which was limed. R. F. Bingham. 
Els^vorth, Mahonmg Co., Ohio. 
Rain W.4ter a Prevestine of Choler.a. — Mr. John 
Lea, of Cincinnati, in a long communication to the 
Gazette, states, as a fact, that “ cholera never becomes 
epidemic in any district, or city, where rain or pure soft 
water is used;” and supports his statements by many im- 
portant facts. He also states that, during five years past,, 
not one well authenticated fatal case of cholera has occured 
where rain water was excIusiTely used. 
