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,«*A»< , '.*<i/<w'». , WM.«<ni<D*D«>M'irf*»n«F'«i 
AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
advantages it offers. And as these advance with 
slow and wary tread to occupy the newly-conquer¬ 
ed ground, they, through whose labors it has been 
won, are already engaged exploring fresh fields.— 
The reproach is often applied to individuals among 
them, that they do the cause of agriculture no 
good, inasmuch as the changes they introduce in¬ 
volve more expense than they bring profit. They 
who utter this charge forget that we learn as much 
hy the blunders as by the successes of our neigh¬ 
bors: and that an example of what is to be avoided 
is many times quite as useful as a view of what is 
worthy to he imitated. And, indeed, time olten 
proves that he who has experimented at a loss to 
himself is a positive benefactor to the community 
in which he Uvea; since he has brought important 
inventions and discoveries to the notice of men 
VANDEMARIv’S SELF-FASTENING PORTABLE OR FIELD FENOl 
' the lock at the other end of the panel, the middle 
rails projecting with the lirst batten across theii 
ends, and the other crossing at the ends Of the top 
and bottom rails. These two end battens are 
placed an opposite sides of the panel, being re¬ 
versed at the two opposite ends of each. When 
put together and strained lengthwise, the end bat¬ 
ten of each panel catches on to and binds on the 
second batten of the next panel, and thereby each 
corner becomes its own fastener and support, ca¬ 
pable of bearing any amount of strain consistent 
with the strength of the material used in the con¬ 
struction of the fence. This is designed fOT a 
zigzag or worm fence, but for small inclosures, if 
desired, the same panels by a different mode of 
locking can he put into a circular form, or can be 
drawn into a straight line and supported by tem¬ 
porary posts or stakes at suitable distances to hold 
it in an upright position.” 
Further information relative to this improve¬ 
ment, and also as to the purchase of rights, can he 
, obtained by addressing the inventor as above. 
“This fence can be made as cheap or cheaper 
than any other portable fence, and is so simple in 
its construction that any farmer can make it, as 
the only tools necessary are a band-saw and ham¬ 
mer—thus obviating the expense of procuring a 
carpenter, as is in most cases necessary in the 
construction of other portable fences. It is made 
in separate panels, which are so constructed that 
when put up the fence is a perfect self-fastener, 
without the necessity of either posts, damps, keys, 
wedges, or any other appendage, and combines 
more strength and durability than any other por¬ 
table fence yet introduced. The panels are made 
with four or five boards or rails of equal length, 
the top a ml bottom rails projecting more or less 
according to the angle desired. Two battens or 
cross pieces are required at each end of the panel 
—one across and fastened to the end of the two 
projecting rails, and the other at the end of the 
middle rails—being fastened to all the rails with 
sufficient space to receive the batten of the oppo¬ 
site end of a corresponding panel, which forms 
every department oi industry wueeuer puy»iu»i ui 
mental,) writing over the initials “B. F„” seems to 
think root culture a rather hard business—says his 
roots cost him about seventy-five cents per bushel, 
but thinks he will raise some as medicine for his 
stock. 
Having been in the habit of raising four or five 
hundred bushels of turnips annually, (mostly the 
round fiat turnip,) I will give a little of my expe¬ 
rience for the benefit of those whom it may con¬ 
cern. One year ago last summer, I raised four 
hundred bushels of the fiat field turnip, and a hun¬ 
dred of ruta hagas. The latter were sown like the 
former, broadcast, and some little time spent in 
thinning and weeding, but none of this attention 
was given to the others. The whole were grown 
at a trifling expense. Some were sold for culinary 
purposes, and the remainder fed to stock not alto- 
genius of practical men in various sections of the 
country—each invention suggesting others, and 
inducing attempts at greater improvement. Of 
late we have illustrated and described two or three 
inventions of this character, and now notice 
another which is olaimed to possess further im¬ 
provements. 
The “Self-Fastening Portable or Field Fence” 
represented by the accompanying engravings, was 
patented by Mr. Ouaki.es Tandbmark, of Oaks 
Corners, Ontario Co,, N. Y„ on the 2d of June 
inst. The inventor claims that it is “superior to 
any other fence now in use for the purposes for 
which suob a fence is designed”—and from an ex¬ 
amination of the model we were favorably im¬ 
pressed in regard to the utility of the improvement 
Mr. Vandbmark describes his fence as follows: 
DIAGRAM OF THE BASE OF VANDEMARK’S IMPROVED PATENT PORTABLE OR FIELD FENCE, 
pulling your corn, or at least in that field. Strych¬ 
nine i 3 equally as good for blackbirds—and there’s 
TO FARMERS ABOUT READING. 
Reading seems a “maxim universal” of the 
age. Books abound—the printed page is the pro¬ 
perty of the people. Books are no longer loaned 
ouly on secured notes, or chained in the chancels 
of churches, and guar Jed by an armed sentinel 
while the student draws treasure from their pages. 
The day when to own a book was to he wealthy has 
gone, and wo almost wonder if great men ever saw 
such a day. We are a nation of readers, reading 
for instruction, information and amusement. We 
are political, moral, religions, news and matter-of- 
fact readers, and shall we complete the list without 
adding that nondescript biped—the novel reader? 
The class In our country who really read noth¬ 
ing, is very small. They only comprise the 14 fogies’ - 
SHEEP.—CONSTIPATION OF THE BOWELS 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE. 
Eds. Rural:— In your number for the Gth of 
June is an article from a “Rjaderin Elbridge,” 
asking for information in relation to Sweet Potato 
Plants. We prefer sandy aoiL Clay does well, if 
animal manure is used. We plant here rrom the 
middle of May to the middle of June. Our best 
yield was from plants set after 20th Jane. For 
late planting, there should be an abundance of 
showers and warm weather. They cannot 
nothing in the world so good for dogs that kill 
sheep. To dogs it should be administered in a 
small piece of mutton; dose, one or two grains.” 
t,y, says:—“We have to-day (June our nr si 
warm and genial Spring day, yet our crops of 
wheat, rye, oats and barley look well, and will pro¬ 
duce at least an average crop. The corn crop has 
required much re planting, and even yet does not 
look flourishing; and engagements for the new 
crop have been made at 60 cents per bushel.— 
Grass has been kept close by hungry stock, but 
our woodlands begin now to wear their accustom¬ 
ed beauty. The preparations for the National Fair 
at Louisville, and lor the Kentucky State Fair at 
Henderson, are making satisfactory progress.” 
who tell stories of the Salem Witchcraft and will 
not ride in the cars. The young arc readers—they 
no longer sit around the winter fire-side with 
mouth and eyes agape, listening in undisguised 
wonder to the “hundredth time told legion,” of 
the revolution In which their sireB figured—or to 
the exploits as hunter, or fisherman, or explorer of 
the forest, of some casual, night-over-taken guest. 
In fact, the time-honored vocation of the itinerant 
story teller has gone and we live in an age when 
tho young, or old, who cherish a desire to live 
over olden Beenes, liavo but to seat them by the 
lighted lamp and, book in hand, listen to tho 
beautiful rehearsals of Irving, Prescott or Gold¬ 
smith. 
Rot we had no thought in the beginning of this 
hour’s labor, to write an essay on the reading of 
the day. We were but taking up our pen to write 
down an important paragraph for farmers, and 
here it is:—Farmers who do not provide their sons 
and daughters with reading may rest assured that 
they will provide themselves. They will have ill 
bv borrowing, or hiring, or some other means.— 
■I wish to make a few inquiries 
Eds. Rfrai, 
respecting the fertilizing properties of clover, a 
question of much importance to the farmer, be¬ 
lieving as I do that it is his principal dependance 
in this section for increasing the productive ener¬ 
gies of his farm. Not that I would undervalue 
barn-yard manure, but on the contrary would 
recommend the most careful management of it— 
and respecting which some of the late articles in 
the Rural are well calculated to enlighten the ag¬ 
ricultural community. I will here say that, in my 
opinion, by far the most important argument in 
favor of piling manure has in every instance (not, 
excepting Mr. Johnson’s communication) been 
most surprisingly omitted—that is, the destruction 
of foul seeds. 
As a guide to my farm management, I wish to 
know whether the enriching qualities of clover 
are obtained from the aliment it derives from tho 
subsoil, and so depositing it near and on the sur¬ 
face and thus to make it available to the next 
crop of growing grain, or whether its growth is 
stimulated by atmospheric, influence—or, as I sup¬ 
pose both causes uniting to promote its growth, 
whether cutting a crop of hay and another of clo¬ 
ver seed the same year would tend to exhaust a 
soil any more, if as much, aB close pasturing from 
spring to fall. 
I will here state my own views. Whether clover 
is nourished by atmospheric influence or not, I 
cannot conceive it to be hardly possible that close 
feeding the entire season, exposing the whole 
snrfade to the rays of the sun and keeping the clo¬ 
ver trampled and nipped, and as a consequence 
preventing half its growth—and as the roots have 
a growth in exact proportion to the top, its en¬ 
riching tendencies would be more than mowing 
two crops. The amount, cut from an acre, Bay two 
tuns, would do but little towards enriching the 
soil, and certainly passing that amount through the 
stomach of stock could not increase the value of 
its fertilizing properties, especially when the fact 
Remedy for Bloated Cattle.—M r. A Corn¬ 
wall, of Penficld, N. Y, informs ns that a few 
days siuce ho had a yearling heifer so badly bloat¬ 
ed from eating clover that sho could not walk.— 
Remembering that he had heard of tar as a reme¬ 
dy, he applied a Bmall quantity to the root of the 
tongue—making three applications at intervals of 
a minute or two. The animal soon recovered en¬ 
tirely, and chewed her cud in a few hours. He 
thinks a remedy which is so simple and effectual 
should be generally known, and we therefore give 
it publicity as being both useful and seasonable. 
disease, The bowels are generally loose enough, 
through tho disease— sometimes not. They almost 
always die if attacked. This occurs when the 
sheep are at the bam and rarely after turned out 
to grass. These are the circumstances relating to 
it as nearly as a general statement will permit. 
If you can give any light on this subject It will 
be tliankfally received by numerous sheep breed¬ 
ers in this section. The sheep brod are the 
“ Spanish Merino,” of the heat quality. If yon 
have no means of information convenient, have 
the kindness to rtjer me to some one who would he 
apt to know something about it, 1’lease .answer 
through the columns of tho New-Yorker, or hy 
mail, as suits your convenience, and oblige a sheep 
breeder “under diflicnlties.” M. Baker, 
La Fayette, Onondaga Co., N. Y., 1357. 
Remarks.— The disease Mr. Baker mentions is 
Bimply a constipation of tho bowels, occasioned 
The Exhibition of Horses of the Union Ag. 
Society at Palmyra, heretofore announced to take 
place on the Itlth and 17th inst., has been post¬ 
poned to the 2d, 3d and -1th of July next, on ac¬ 
count of the tnjnry done to the Grounds of the 
Society by the recent heavy rains. The Board of 
Mauagers have decided to increase many of the pre¬ 
miums, and to offer other attractions on the occa¬ 
sion, and we doubt not the exhibition will be more 
interesting and creditable on account of the post¬ 
ponement. 
County Ag. Fairs are to he held in this State 
the present year, as follows: 
Franklin, Malone..Sept. 23, 24, 25. 
Jeffcnton, Watertown...Sept. 16,17- 
Livingston, Geneseo.Sept. 24, 25. 
Monroe, Rochester.Sept. 21, 2-, ^. 
Oi leans, Albion. Oct. 1 , 2 . 
Palmyra Union Ag., Palmyra.....Oct. 14, 15, lb. 
St. Lawrence, Canton.Sept. 18,17,18. 
Wayne, Lyona.Sept 16, 17, • 
Secretaries of County Societies not above enu¬ 
merated, will oblige us by forwardiug information 
as to times and places of holding their respective 
annual exhibitions. 
.-——« ►«+»- 
Underdrains. — A Suggestion,-- Will some one 
that has had experience in the matter inform me 
as to the best modo of constructing an underdrain 
of cobble stone, whether it is necessary or best to 
nut down a layer of small, or flat stones, for the 
bottom of the drain: also aa to the utility and 
probable durability of such drains. 1 wish to sug¬ 
gest, as 1 liavo never heard the matter mentioned, 
whether underdrains constructed of, or tilled in 
with gravel, for draining lowish places where wa¬ 
ter stands only in very wet times, would not an¬ 
swer the purpose, whore other material is not at 
, hand.— M. Waterman, Franklin Township, FeluUO 
Co., Indiana, 1857. 
HOW TO HEAD THE 
Eds. Rorai.: —In the Rural of June Gth, there 
is an article headed “Woodchuck,” in which tho 
writer describes very forcibly the depredations of 
this portion of the “farm stock,” and asks how are 
we to get rid oi them? The following plan is doing 
up the work pretty effectually in this town:—A 
year ago last April, the writer of this article offered 
a resolution ftt the Annual Township Meeting, that 
a bounty of twenty-five cents be paid foi every 
skunk and woodchuck killed in the town on any 
week day of the year. This resolution was amend- 
_ NIL n .. n.. 
ed, reducing the bounty to one dime, lbe number 
killed during the year was over eighteen hundred! 
The consequence is, they are becoming “mighty 
scarce;” their habitations are being deserted, and 
have becomo almost tenantleaa. The payment 
from the treasury of so large a sum it was thought 
would prevent the continuance of tho bounty; hut 
so beneficial baa it proved, that when the question 
was put at the last township meeting, “Shall tlio 
skunk and woodchuck bounty be continued?” a 
universal shout went up in its favor. Oiler a 
bounty of from ten to twenty-five cents for the de¬ 
struction of skunks, woodchucks, crows, caterpil¬ 
lar nests, &c., and the hoys will 11 x the modus 
operandi of doing the thing. J- S. Tidbits. 
is considreed that these excrements lose much of 
their value hy evaporation when dropped upon a 
closely grazed suiface. I think from experience 
and observation that keeping stock otF from clover 
until it has acquired a full growth, and pasturing 
the rcHt of the season, is a pretty sure guarantee 
for a strong growth to the next crop of grain, hut 
why, I am unable to tell, unless it be the value of 
the root, as in that ease there cannot he more than 
two or three tuna trampled down, and what an in¬ 
considerable trifle would that be to an acre. Will 
some of your correspondents give through the 
Grain for Store Sheep. — In the Rural of 
June Gth, I noticed a communication in regard to 
feeding ewes oats. I fed a flock of thirty ewe?, 
four quarts per day, last winter — they wintered 
finely in a yard without sheds, and will raise seveu- 
ciglits of their lambs, some of which were dropped 
in very had weather and no attention paid them. 
I regard oats as the best grain lor store sheep.— 
E. F. L., Lenox, N. Y., 1857. 
Rural their ideas respecting these questions, and 
Subscriber. 
oblige a 
Seneca, N. Y., 1S57. 
Plymouth, Mich,, June 8,1857, 
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