60 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
A Sled for Hauling Sap. 
Maple sugar making is a leading industry in 
some parts of the United States. When the 
orchard, or “ Sap-bush ” is large, the sap must 
be gathered in the cheapest and quickest pos¬ 
sible manner by means of teams. Figure 1 
shows a low sled with wide runners—a stone- 
boat sled—for holding three barrels or casks. 
Fig. 1.—SLED FOB HAULING SAP. 
Two boards are cut in curves on one edge, 
and nailed upon the top of the sled, so that 
the casks fit down securely between them. 
The casks are filled through the bung with a 
large wooden funnel, having a wide outlet. 
The bottom of the funnel is shaped to fit the 
curve of the barrel, to prevent its tipping. 
To economize in labor, it is desirable, in gath- 
Fig. 2.—METHOD OF UNLOADING THE SAP. 
eiing sap, to drive the sled as near the tapped 
trees as possible. When the barrels are full, 
drive close to the skids, which run from the 
store trough. The skids should be put on a 
level with the top of the sled-rave, as shown 
in figure 2, the skids being just 
long enough to let the barrel 
revolve once and a half, bring¬ 
ing the bung downward on 
the trough. A single half 
turn for the barrel would be 
more convenient when possible to arrange for 
such close work. A strainer, figure 3, fits in¬ 
to the top of the funnel to keep out the dirt. 
Hedge-Plants for the Southern States. 
Several correspondents in the Southern 
States have asked which are the plants best 
suited for hedges in their climate. We would 
suggest to these that there is a more important 
question than the kind of plant—do they 
want a hedge at all ? There is so much to be 
said on both sides of the hedge question that 
we do not propose to discuss it now. What¬ 
ever the kind of live fence, it requires, in 
order to keep it in serviceable condition, more 
or less yearly care. Hedges differ in the 
amount of attention they demand, but all 
must have some, and the ability to give this 
must be taken into the account, in deciding 
whether or not to establish a hedge. We 
assume that our correspondents refer to 
hedges as barriers to turn stock, and not to 
those for ornament. 'When a mere screen is 
required, or it is desirable to separate the lawn 
or ornamental grounds from the kitchen gar¬ 
den and the like, ability to turn animals is 
not looked for; a hedge in such a place should 
be evergreen, that it may appear at its best 
all the year round. There are many shrubs 
and trees which may be employed for such a 
hedge, of kinds not hardy in the Northern 
States. The European Laurels, Japan Euo- 
nymus, Cape Jessamine, Laurestinus, Pitto- 
sporum, and others, known with us only as 
greenhouse shrubs, will make hedges beauti¬ 
ful for flowers as well as for foliage. But to 
make a thorny barrier, the number of plants 
is much less. The two most 
useful plants in the Northern 
States, Osage Orange and 
Honey Locust will answer in 
southern localities also, but 
are open to the objection that 
they are not evergreen, and 
of too vigorous growth. The 
late Mr. Affleck, of Texas, 
who gave much attention to 
the subject, regarded the 
Osage Orange as inferior to 
several other plants for south¬ 
ern localities, and his objections to that— 
the amount of care it must have—would 
apply with more force to the Honey Locust. 
One of his favorite hedge plants was the 
Evergreen or Pyracanth Thom (Crataegus 
Pyracantha), from the south of Europe. 
This has fine dark persistent foliage, and 
abundant white blossoms succeeded by a 
profusion of red haws. As 
it is naturally a bush, it does 
not require severe cutting to 
form and keep it as a hedge. 
It is not surely hardy north 
of Virginia, but its white- 
berried variety is said to be 
much more hardy, and endure 
the winters of NewYork State. 
That which was preferred by Mr. Affleck to 
all others as a general hedge-plant, is the 
Cherokee Rose (Rosa Sinica). This is of Asi¬ 
atic origin, though long supposed to be a 
native. It makes shoots 20 to 40 feet long, 
which are very thorny and 
clothed with shining evergreen 
leaves, and bearing large, single, 
pure white flowers. This is not 
cut back to form a hedge, but 
the long shoots are heaped up 
and form an impenetrable bar¬ 
rier. Upon rich soil this rose is 
too rampant, and Mr. Affleck, 
in such cases, preferred the 
Macartney Rose, another for¬ 
eign species. We know that 
the Pyracanth Thom is offered 
at the nurseries, and suppose 
that the Roses may be had also. 
The Thom is propagated by 
cuttings and from seeds, while 
the Roses are almost wholly 
raised from cuttings. Being very hard- 
wooded species, they strike root slowly, 
hence they are set in beds in the open 
air in autumn, and are allowed to grow a 
year before planting them in the hedge row. 
Percha. For this purpose the gutta-percha 
should be crude, i. e., not mixed with any¬ 
thing or manufactured in any manner, but 
just as imported. Its application depends 
upon the property which the gum has of 
softening and becoming plastic by heat,, 
and hardening again when cold. To apply it, 
place the gutta-percha in hot water until it 
becomes soft, and having well cleansed the 
foot, removing whatever has accumulated, 
between the shoe and hoof, take a piece of 
the softened gum and press it against the 
shoe and foot in such a manner as to fill the 
angle between the shoe and the hoof, taking- 
care to force it into the crack between the 
two. Thus filling the crevices, and the space 
next the shoe, where the snow most firmly 
adheres, the ball of snow has nothing to- 
hold it, and it either does not form, or drops 
out as soon as it is gathered. When the gutta¬ 
percha is applied, and well smoothed off 
with the wet. fingers, it may be hardened at 
once, to prevent the horse from getting it out 
of place by stamping, by the application of 
snow or ice, or more slowly by a wet sponge 
or cloth. When it is desired to remove the 
gum, the application of hot water by means- 
of a sponge or cloth will so soften it that it 
may be taken off. As the softening and 
hardening may be repeated indefinitely, the- 
same material will last for years. For a horse 
of medium size, a quarter of a pound is suffi¬ 
cient for all the feet. Having tested this ap¬ 
plication late last winter, and thus far the 
present season, we can commend it as thor¬ 
oughly efficacious in preventing one of the 
greatest annoyances snow brings with it.. 
Concrete Houses and other Buildings. 
Many inquiries are made by correspondents- 
about concrete houses. Concrete is a cheap 
and good material when one can not get bet¬ 
ter, and such houses may be really elegant. 
To Prevent the Balling of Horses. 
When the snow upon the roads is cohesive 
and packs firmly, it collects upon the feet of 
horses, forming a hard, projecting mass, in a 
manner known as “ balling.” This often oc¬ 
curs to such an extent as to impede the mo¬ 
tion of the horse, while it causes the animal 
great discomfort, and is sometimes dangerous 
to the rider or driver. The trouble may be 
prevented very easily by the use of Gutta- 
2.—THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE POSTS. 
architecturally, for any form which may be 
given to a brick or stone house may be pro¬ 
duced in this material. 
Concrete Frame Houses. 
An exceedingly comfortable and pictur¬ 
esque style of house is one lightly framed 
with 8 to 10 inch wide 2-inch planks. Heavier 
timbers may be used if greater picturesque¬ 
ness is desired—the framing being in this 
case made conspicuous, braced uniformly, 
the comer posts being substantial 8 by 8 or 
6 by 8-inch timbers. Otherwise, that is when 
just as little framing is employed as is needed 
to give support to the concrete while the 
building is going up and to support the win¬ 
dow frames—the plank frame will be found 
preferable. The comers are made by placing 
