IS 
CUTTING TIMBER AND SETTING POSTS. 
committee was, that the slight apparent difference of 
draught in favor of the smallest size, does not, by 
any means, compensate for the very great difference 
in the amount of work done by the Eagle plow. 
The clevis on the Eagle plow sent by you, is a de¬ 
cided improvement on that of the one I purchased in 
Natchez, which is very defective. 
We have another trial of implements, to take place 
probably in April or last of March, when we feel 
confident of seeing a still greater number here; and 
when those very excellent plows shall have a farther 
trial. I should like"to see a large sized subsoil plow 
here at that time—the one you sent does good work 
for the draught required, two small horses taking it 
along, at a depth of six inches, with great ease. We 
are very willing to put four stout mules to a good 
plow. Subsoiling is attracting considerable attention; 
our best planters will, ere long, consider it an indis¬ 
pensable part of good farming. 
Cost of Corn Shelter. —What is the cost of Smith’s 
power corn sheller and separater, capable of getting 
out say even 100 bushels of ears per hour, (a) I 
wish he would send one here. 
Degeneracy of Wool. —Your correspondent, R. L. 
Allen, in his excellent article on wool growing, must 
take a fling at the unfortunate “climate of the 
south.” (b) Will he inform us how long a time 
elapses before the wool of the negro straightens out 
in the cold climate of the north ? And how long 
we, of the “ European races,” may calculate upon 
being able to use a comb and brush ? The extra de¬ 
gree of heat the sheep has to undergo here, is a mere 
nothing to the difference between the degrees of heat 
and cold he has to encounter with you. The Ten¬ 
nessee Agriculturist is involving itself in a fine web 
of absurdity on this same subject. I will disentangle 
all of you, one of these days. 
The results of all my experiments thus far, go to 
prove that you are right in warning your readers to 
be on their guard with chemical solutions for seeds. 
Until 1 try farther, I would not wish to enter into any 
particulars. 
Thomas Affleck. 
Inglesicle, Adams Co ., Miss ., Nov. 26, 1844. 
(a) It is $50, delivered in this city, or $40 at the 
manufacturers, 
( b ) Are you not mistaken ? He speaks of wool as 
deteriorating in the “ equatorial regions” only, as we 
understand him; and we presume that he would 
make those portions of the equator sufficiently ele¬ 
vated to ensure a temperate climate and good pastur¬ 
age, an exception to his remarks. We do not think 
he meant to include any part of the United States in 
his observations. However, he will probably explain 
for himself when this meets his eye. We shall be 
glad to see Mr. Affleck’s “ disentanglement” of all of 
us; but if he means to include the editor of this pa¬ 
per as entertaining the idea of wool degenerating in 
any part of the southern United States, he will find, 
by looking over our writings, that we have ever ex¬ 
pressed the opinion that it grows softer and finer 
there, on the same kinds of sheep, than here at the 
north, provided they get anything like fair attention. 
To keep sheep on the lowlands of the south in win¬ 
ter, and drive them in the spring to the mountains 
not over 100 to 300 miles distant, will be quite com¬ 
mon we. hope a quarter of a century hence. 
CUTTING TIMBER AND SETTING POSTS. 
Can any one infprm me what is the best season 
for cutting timber and the best manner of setting 
posts.(o) Nine-tenths of all the published directions 
for cutting timber, claim that the best season for en¬ 
suring durability, is to cut in February; while the 
other tenth claim, that by cutting in June or July 
and immediately peeling off the bark, timber will not 
powder-post, and will last three or four times as long 
as that cut in winter. Is not the proper time some- 
■ what later, and truly indicated by the perfection of 
the leaf, say from August to first of November? 
i Analogy would lead us to suppose this, and some 
i experiments go strongly to confirm it. Experiments 
in summer cutting have been most conclusive in favor 
of its superiority oyer winter cuttings Can it be that 
truth lies with the few, and are the many mistaken ? 
i Such has not unfrequently been the case. Can any 
' of the numerous readers of the Agriculturist give us 
facts on the subject ? A series of experiments in cut¬ 
ting every week in the year, for a series of years, 
the temperature and peculiarity of season being noted 
at each time—with all descriptions of timber—young 
and matured—peeled and unpeeled—boused and un¬ 
housed—and applied to all the different purposes for 
which timber is used, would result in vast advanta¬ 
ges to the community. ( b) 
[ wish to re-set a number of fence posts the ensu¬ 
ing spring. What durability may I look for from 
white-oak, grown in the original forests of New 
York, which have been in use eight or nine years? 
Is there any difference in setting the top or bottom 
end in the ground ? The soil in which they are to 
be set is a strong clay; can any advantage be derived 
from placing a quantity of leached ashes around 
them at the surface, and how many 1 are required foi 
each post of six or seven inches square ? (e) 
Quericus. 
(a) The best method of setting posts which W€ 
have seen practised, is on the farm of Mr. Gibbons ot 
i New Jersey. A hole is dug two and a half feet deep, 
and of a circumference of four inches wider than the 
circle of the post. Small cobble stones are laid 
four inches deep on the bottom of this for the post to 
rest on; the hole is then filled up all round the post 
; with the same kind of stone. Thus planted, it does 
not come in contact with the ground at all, and will 
; stand sound for many years. 
( b ) It is pretty certain that timber must throw out 
its sap soon after being cut, otherwise it undergoes 
fermentation, which causes it rapidly to decay. Now 
if it be cut and peeled during warm weather, it has a 
much better opportunity to get rid of its sap than 
when cut in winter and left to dry as it best may 
with the bark on. If these observations be correct, any 
time sap is running, would be the best to cut timber 
and as soon as peeled, it should be hauled out of the 
woods and exposed to the sun to dry. All ex peri* 
; menls which we have ever heard of, go to show tha‘ 
; timber cut in the spring and summer lasts longer than 
: that cut in the winter. 
; (c) Setting posts with the little end down it is said 
• will make them last much longer than with the butt 
'end down ; but having no experience on the sub¬ 
ject, we cannot answer whether this is really so. 
Of the benefit of leached ashes we know nothing 
i Charring the post before setting adds to its duration. 
