THE CULTIVATOR. 
113 
We find in the Maine Farmer a description and figures 
of a fence as made by Mr. Dennett of Buxton. It strikes 
us as a good fence, and worthy of adoption where stone tor 
the sills can be had. The regularity of the stones for the 
sills, can be of no consequence; it is enough that they are 
of considerable size, and with a flat surface. We copy 
Mr. Dennett’s description in part, and his figures. It has 
occurred to us, that in many parts of our country where 
stone is not convenient, blocks of red cedar or locust, of 
the required length might be substituted for stone, by be¬ 
ing bedded in the ground, and the posts secured to them 
posts are not secured, we should apprehend that winds or 
animals would shove them from the stones; but if fasten¬ 
ed by an iron, spiked to the post, and let two inches into 
the stone, the bottom, and indeed the fence itself, would, 
be immoveable, so long as the stakes remained sound. 
The black dots show where the spikes would pass to se¬ 
cure both the bottom pieces at the posts, and the boards 
themselves. 
SHEEP IN VERMONT. 
as to the stone. 
«I have stone sills from 4 to 6 feet long, 6 inches 
square, which I lay level on the ground with a flat stone 
under each end, where the land is wet and soft. On each 
sill I strap two posts made of inch plank; my rails 
pass between them which are sawn 25 feet long, 6 inch¬ 
es wide, 1|- inches thick. The plank from which the 
posts are made should be of the most durable kind of 
wood, and about 14 inches wide. Saw them into 4 feet 
lengths. Set on 2 inches from each edge at both ends of 
the plank and saw it in two. See d. fig. 32. [At the saw 
mill, all the posts that a log will make may be cut at 
once, a great saving of labor.—-Eds. Cult.] Now you 
will have two posts, each 2 inches at one end, and 12 at 
the other. Fit these two posts to a sill, and mark where 
to drill the holes for the iron straps, as at a. fig. 32.” 
Gains are cut in the inner edge of each post for the rails, 
inch deep, so that when put together, the post appears 
as in a. fig. 32. Before placing together, the posts appear 
as in b. fig. 32. The iron straps for securing the posts to 
the sills are made 8 inches long, f inches wide, £ inches 
thick. The straps should be let into the sill 2 inches 
with a dovetail. See c. fig. 32. The bottom of the hole in 
the stone must be the widest, to receive the dovetail of 
the iron, which is fastened in the stone by a key £ inch 
square, drove by the side of the iron strap. The strap is 
secured to the posts by large nails or spikes two in num¬ 
ber. The first length is broad, as shown in the cut, and 
the bracing is repeated every 15 or 20 lengths. A pin is 
put through the bottom rails each side of the posts, and a 
bolt of three-eights round iron through the posts and top 
rails as in a. fig. 32. 
The cost of this fence is stated by Mr. Dennett to be 
$1 ,35 a length of 24 feet, or 92 cents a rod. It appears 
to us that a cap of 1^ inch boards nailed on the top of 
these posts, would give the fence more firmness, a little 
more height, and the top of the posts more durability. 
Another fence of a somewhat similar construction has 
been described to us, much cheaper at first, but which 
would be less firm and durable we should imagine, than 
the one above described. Figure 33 will show at a 
glance, the construction and appearance of this fence. 
In this rough sketch of the fence alluded to, the posts, 3 
and 4 inches square, stand on flat stones, level with the 
surface, and are 3 feet in length. The lower board is 14 
inches in width, and the upper 12 inches. The cap 
piece is 5 inches wide and 2 inches thick. Stakes of du¬ 
rable wood at every post, or at every other one, support 
a rider made of a rail, or better of a long pole, which 
will reach several lengths. The distance of the posts 
will be determined by the length of the boards used; it 
should not be over 10 or 12 feet. As the bottom of the 
We have received a communication, signed <<: 01cE 
Chittenden,” in reference to sheep, their improvement, 
&c. An unusual press of matter, prevents our giving 
anything more than a brief notice of its contents. The 
writer states that he has traveled extensively in 23 States 
of the Union, and he has nowhere seen sheep that pro¬ 
duce as much wool of the same quality, with the same 
expense of keeping, as some flocks in the State of Ver¬ 
mont. He says there are farmers who have so improved 
their sheep, as to clip from four to five pounds per head; 
though when they began, their sheep only averaged two 
and a half to three pounds. He remarks, that as profit 
should be the main aim of the farmer, he is desirous of 
learning what methods of breeding and keeping sheep, 
have been found most successful in this respect, and he 
wishes practical men would communicate the results of 
their experience. 
“ Old Chittenden” speaks of keeping sheep on the 
western prairies, and on this point, differs from his 
neighbor, Mr. Jewett. The dry prairies, “ Old Chitten¬ 
den” thinks will make the very best sheep pastures. He 
says he speaks from his own observation—having been 
much on the prairies. He thinks the prairie farmer will 
not probably rear as large sheep, or cut as heavy fleeces 
as the Vermont farmer, but the former will produce 
them at half the expense. 
POINTS OF A HORSE. 
It was formerly said that a horse should have three 
qualities of a woman, three of an ox, three of a mule, 
three of a deer, three of a wolf, three of a sheep, three 
of a fox, three of a cat, and three of a snake. Mr. Hoop¬ 
er of the Western Farmer and Gardener, gives the fol 
lowing interpretation of this, from Denton Offutt, the an¬ 
imal manager: 
“ Three of a woman, deep chest, full bosom, longhair 
Three of an ox, eye, nostril, joints. Of a mule, hoof, 
strength, perseverance. Of a deer, head, legs, hair lays 
well. Of a wolf, breast, loin, lope. Of a sheep, face, pa¬ 
tience, mildnes'5. Of a fox, ear, tail, foot. Of a cat, walk, 
action, leap. Of a snake, sight, memory, and moulting.” 
Offutt, whose name is mentioned above, we are told, is 
much distinguished in Kentucky, for his success in taming 
animals. His rules, (as given in the Farmer and Garden¬ 
er,) seem to be simple and rational. His first object is 
to confine the animals in a small space. Then approach 
them slowly and quietly—induce them to eat salt from 
the hand—rub them all over with the hands—always mo¬ 
ving the hand with the direction of the hair—speak softly 
and soothingly to them, rubbing them at the same time 
about the face and head. Feed them only moderately, 
so that they may be always ready to take food and water. 
Never strike them a blow. 
To prevent a horse from lying down in harness, he 
says, “tie him down with a rope, so that he cannot get 
up, and keep him so ten hours. Then let him get up, and 
work him for an hour. Give him water from your hand, 
and feed him; this tends to make him like you, removes 
fear, and restores confidence.” 
