104 
AMERIOA^N^ AGBIOULTUEIST, 
[Maech, 
Farm Fencing. 
Fences are a necessity, and nothing detracts more 
from the looks of a farm than a poor fence, espec¬ 
ially a neglected zigzag or “snake” one, with its cor¬ 
ners a mass of weeds or litter. In man}^ of these 
there is abundant material to make a good straight 
fence. A good deal of the work can be clone in 
winter or early spring days, and on rainy ones. 
Figure 1 shows a portable “Fence Jack,” very 
useful on wet land where posts heave, around 
stacks, and for general fencing. It can be made 
of pieces of rails or poles, or any lasting timber; the 
pieces are from five to six feet long. A short 
foot piece is first shaped, and then fastened 
on with five or six inch nails as required by 
the size of the pieces. The mode of laying in 
Figs. 1. —FENCE JACK AND ITS USE. 
the running rails or poles, is shown in figure 1. 
The feet of the jack rests on the soil, but sink 
into it a little, giving firmness. I have this in 
practical use, and find it very serviceable. 
Figure 2 is a fence made of either sawed stuff, or 
of raiis or poles, having their ends flattened and 
bored. An iron rod or piece of gas-pipe, anywhere 
from half an inch to an inch in diameter, is run 
through the holes, and down through a base block 
into the ground as far as necessary. A round 
stick of tough durable wood, an inch or more in 
diameter, will answer. The size of this rod and its 
strength wiil depend upon the amount of zigzag 
that is given to the lengths. If the corners are one 
foot on each side of a central line, the fence firmiy 
held together by the rods, will in effect stand on a 
two feet wide base. Less than this would per¬ 
Fig. 2.— FENCE FASTENED BT BODS. 
haps sometimes answer, and there are no sharp 
corners, or deep recesses for rubbish. 
Figure 3 is a fence in which round poles or small 
rails are combined with barbed wire, the for¬ 
mer used both for part of the fence, and to be seen 
by animals that would otherwise run against the 
Fig. 3.— FENCE OF SEATS AND WIEE. 
wires. The ends of the rails are rounded to fit into 
two to three inch auger holes, bored either through 
the posts, or two to three inches deep on each side. 
Eails or poles too small for other purposes, may 
be used for such a fence. 
Figure 4 is designed for a wind-break fence. For 
the temporary fence, two or more wires piain or 
barbed are used, and’ along these, a foot apart or 
so, wHlow cuttings sharpened, are set in line, and 
cut off to uniform bight. The larger these are the 
better, even to two or three inches diameter. This 
form is more especially for wet soils, where any 
willows flourish well. They will soon sprout, fill 
the space, and form a live fence. I have seen white 
willow growing weil on dry soil. J. Baetlett. 
A Crop of Early Potatoes. 
Of course, to have a crop of early potatoes we 
must have an early kind. There are now so many 
varieties, each claimed to be a day or tvvo earlier 
than any other, that we do not venture to say 
which is the very earliest. Our own planting will 
be, as it has been for several years past, of the 
Beauty of Hebron and the Early Rose for the 
main reliance. We usually try, in comparison with 
these several new varieties for which claims are 
made. We have no doubt that there are kinds 
some days earlier, but the Beauty of Hebron is as 
good as a potato can be, is productive and of even 
size. The Eariy Rose has, been surpassed in earli¬ 
ness, bpt we doubt if in the general combination 
of good qualities. It is an excelient standard with 
which to compare new-comers. We plant it in 
part in acknowledgment of the great good it has 
done. Those who can recollect the gloom which 
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Fig. 4.— WIND-BEEAK FENCE. 
hung over the potato prospects about twenty years 
ago, and the change came with the advent of the 
Early Rose, will understand this feeling. Potato 
culture took a sharp turn for the better, and the 
Early Rose was the leader in a long procession of 
new and excellent varieties. Whatever early pota¬ 
toes we may plant, we may make them earlier by 
proper treatment of the seed. A potato is only an 
underground stem, and when we cut it into sets, 
we only make what corresponds to cuttings of or¬ 
dinary above-ground stems. . It is found if the 
tuber, the potato, be brought into the condition of 
an ordinary stem its buds, the eyes, push sooner 
and are more vigorous. On the Island of Jersey 
early potatoes for the London market are an im¬ 
portant crop. The preparation of the seed for the 
next year is commenced as soon as the crop is dug. 
Shallow boxes are provided, two feet long by one 
foot wide, with sides two inches high. At each 
end is a frame work made of two corner posts 
seven inches high with a cross strip at the top. 
These end frames allow the boxes to be stacked 
upon one another and leave plenty of room for air 
and light. The potatoes for seed are set close to¬ 
gether in these boxes, “ seed end” up, and left out 
of doors in any convenient place with full exposure 
to the light. After a while the potatoes become 
thoroughly green, and a few short, thick sprouts 
are formed. When the weather becomes eooi the 
boxes are taken in and stored where they will not 
be frozen. At planting time these iiotatoes are 
set upright in the furrow ; being well provided 
with sprouts that have only to continue their 
growth, much time is gained. It is worth while to 
try the experiment, even as late as this, and expose 
the seed potatoes to light and heat. In the Island 
of Jersey whole potatoes are planted, but it would 
be well to try cutting the seed, leaving one or two 
sprouts to each piece, taking care not to break them. 
A Questionable Elessing. 
Rev. J. G. Wood, the Naturalist, in a late num¬ 
ber of “ Longman’s Magazine,” makes a plea for 
the mole. He cites evidence to show that this- 
commonly considered pest is in reality a blessing 
to farmer and gardener, in destroying worms,, 
larvae, pupae, and ground insects ; in aerating and 
draining the soil with his burrow; in lifting the- 
under-soil to top-dress the surface-soil, etc., etc. 
By the same reasoning, as every creature has it& 
uses, not one shouid be destroyed ; and the pious 
Brahmin who never kills beast, bird, or insect, is 
sensible and humane. But this parity of reasoning 
is a poor consolation to a man stung by a wasp, 
bitten by a snake, or devoured by a tiger ; and the 
humanities are quite wasted where they are in di¬ 
rect antagonism to man’s economies, comforts, and 
necessities. The question is one of compensation, 
certainly, so far as the mole is concerned. If, like 
tlie crow, he only did a very little harm to a great 
deal of good, no farmer or gardener would anathe¬ 
matize him ; but, to see ail my lawns and terraces 
so completely burrowed and aerated as to be seamed 
with lines of dead grass ; to, have my rose-borders 
honey combed with tunnels that kill the growth of 
the now vigorous plants; to have my garden so 
ridged as to destroy the peas, beans, and beets, as 
elTeetually as if a fire had passed under the rows ; 
to have rod upon rod of the choicest strawberries 
lifted from the ground—all this makes me think, 
the benefactions of the mole are of the non sequitur 
order. The richer the land, the more worms; so 
the penalty we pay for free manuring is — moles. 
Once in the soil, by natural selection and survival 
of the toughest, he stays, and woe to the succulent 
and savory products of that field or garden where 
the mole has his habitat. And, as the increase of 
this benefactor is in proportion to his undisturbed 
occupancy, the alternative soon is—root out the 
benefactor, or abandon the soil. Mr. Wood would 
have the mole remain to root out the grubs, but I 
much prefer the grubs to the moles; so the order 
on my place is to “ turn the rascals out,” to kill 
and destroy by every means possible. 
And here let me add — what a delusion and a 
snare are the patent mole-traps now on the market. 
With me not one is effective. If one does occa¬ 
sionally jiin a mole in its run, it is, as a rule, provok- 
ingly inefficient. My remedy is—poison. I taint a 
bit of raw beef with Fowier’s solution of arsenic, 
carefully uncoverthe run, drop in the beef, re-cover 
the opening with a board, and the work is done. 
O. G. V. 
Spring Work Around the House. 
The first work will be to repair the damage of 
winter. If storms or accumulations of snow have 
broken the branches of any trees, the broken limb 
should be cut back to the trunk, and the wound 
covered with paint or graltiug-wax. Improve¬ 
ments and alterations should have been well con¬ 
sidered during the leisure of winter, and be ready 
to be executed as soon as the ground is open. New 
roads and paths should only be made where they 
are needed. It is a mistake to cut up the ground 
with useless paths ; they look very pretty “ serpen¬ 
tining ” on a plan, but cost a deal of work to keep 
in order. Thorough work is required on all walks 
and drives. Neither can be made permanent with¬ 
out a good foundation. Where stones are at hand, 
excavate the bed and throw in the largest stones 
first, adding the smaller ones above, and finish with 
gravel. In localities where there are neither stones 
nor gravel, coal ashes is the best material ; spread 
the ashes upon the surface, adding a little soil to 
make it bind, and form a compact, hard surface. 
AVhiie flower beds are greatly improved by being 
framed in the green of the lawn, the lawn is by no 
means improved by being cut up too much by 
flower-beds. If one or the other is to be in excess, 
let it be the turf. Plant ornamental trees and 
shrubs early, and cut back the top in proportion to- 
the loss of roots. Maple, elm, and other trees. 
from the woods, lose their fibrous roots to such au. 
