84 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
fowls are mostly of the variety called Cochin China, 
imported by Mr. Baylies, of Taunton, Mass. The 
eggs that were sold were reckoned at fifty cents per 
dozen, though one dollar was the price charged; but 
fifty cents per dozen was deducted for the trouble of 
packing and sending off. The accout stands thus: 
Eggs sold—1300,. $27 97 
Eggs not sold—581, at 15 cents per dozen,.. 7 27 
Fowls sold,. 46 48 
Value of fowls on hand over last year at this time,. 10 00 
$91 72 
32£ bushels of corn and meal, at 75 cents,. 24 37 
Balance in favor of fowls,. 67 35 
Wire Fences. 
Editors Cultivator —I regret to notice in the 
January number of the Cultivator, an article against 
Wire Fences; and to show that the writer is “ reck¬ 
oning without his host/’ I will state that No. 10 
wire, which is the finest used, can be bought for 5£ 
cents per pound; and that Mr. Ellet, the con¬ 
structor of Wire Suspension Bridges, in a report, 
states that a single strand of this No. will sustain 
1500 pounds. A fence of wire of this No. may be 
made for 50 cents per rod; and in case of the 
u plunging of heavy cattle against it,” they would 
probably meet with the resistance of three of the 
wires, and an animal in breaking them must em¬ 
ploy a force equal to about 4500 pounds; and the 
writer alluded to thinks that when made even of 
wire so large as to cost $2 per rod, it will be ■“ fre¬ 
quently broken” in that way. Now according to 
the above calculation, they must be mighty cattle, 
possessing “ a power” of strength and force fully 
equal to the iron-horse called Loco-motive. 
Any one who has observed the effect of wind in 
swaying and breaking off the wires of a well-con¬ 
structed wire fence, must admit that the objection 
is at least a windy one. 
Now although I have had but about 40 rods of 
experience in making this kind of fence, and which 
cost me less than 50 cents per rod, I am fully of the 
opinion that it is worthy of the attention of every 
farmer who has not “ stones on his fields which he 
wishes to get rid of ;” for I know of no locality 
where a farmer can erect a rail or board fence for 
much less than $1 per rod; but I can refer you to 
many large sections where every farmer will tell 
you his rail and board fences cost him nearly double 
that sum, and is yearly increasing as our forests and 
wood lots are decreasing, and are enhanced in value. 
That a cheaper substitute for field fences is loudly 
called for, no man can dispute. It is true that the 
American farmer is at greater expense for the sup¬ 
port of his fences than any other farmer in the world. 
It is by far the heaviest drawback upon the profits of 
the farmer, that he is obliged to contend with. In¬ 
deed it stands like a lion in the pathway of many 
great improvements which long ago would have 
been made, and which every farmer yearly sees and 
is desirous of making, but is reluctantly compelled 
to turn from, and apply all the means in his power 
to his decaying fences of wood. And how, I ask, 
are our western prairies to be fenced, where in ma¬ 
ny instances, not a tree is to be seen or stone found 
for leagues; and it has been found that embank¬ 
ments of earth there w'ill not answer. In conse¬ 
quence of the great cheapness of iron, many have 
been led to experiment with it in the form of wire 
as a substitute for wood fences, and I see nothing 
against its success, after, perhaps, some better 
method shall have been contrived for straining, fas¬ 
tening and uniting the strands; and should it come 
Feb. 
into general use, it would add immensely to the 
great iron manufacturing interest of the country.—■ 
Three and a half feet high is sufficient for sheep, 
and 5 feet for cattle and horses; and I should be 
pleased to give such information as I am possessed 
of with regard to constructing it. 
And now I earnestly suggest to every reader of 
the extensively circulated Cultivator who has had 
any experience or observation respecting Wire 
Fences, to transmit their views to this journal, to¬ 
gether with a minute method of constructing it, 
and I dotibt not that an opinion may at once be formed 
with regard to the propriety of its general adop¬ 
tion. " A. B. 
The original signature of the above communication 
having been that of a well-known and regular cor¬ 
respondent of The Cultivator , we have thought it 
proper to substitute another in its stead. We shall 
be glad to receive from A. B., and from any other 
of our readers who have erected wire fences, their 
views as to the best method of constructing it, its 
cost, and probable permanence.— Eds. 
Products of Labor and Capital. 
The Report of the Commissioner of Patents for 
the year 1848, makes the following estimate of the 
products of labor and capital in the United States 
for that year: 
Wheat,. 
Quantities, 
..126,364,600 bushels. 
Value. 
$145,319,290 
Indian Corn,. 
344,058,500 
Barley,. 
u 
4,044,332 
Rye,. 
u 
21,418,475 
Oats,. 
H 
64,925,000 
Buckwheat,. 
K 
6,266,500 
Potatoes,. 
M 
32,342,500 
Beans,. 
... 10,000,000 
« 
10 ,000,000 
Peas,. 
. . 20,000,000 
U 
17,500,000 
Flaxseed,. 
u 
1,920,000 
The prices 
of these articles per 
bushel, are thus 
estimated: 
Wheat,. 
Buckwheat, 
Indian Corn,. 
.59 “ 
Potatoes, .. 
. ...30 “ 
Barley, . 
.65 “ 
Beans, .... 
Rye,. 
. 65 “ 
Peas,. 
. 871 “ 
Oats,. 
Flaxseed, . 
.120 « 
It will be seen that Indian Corn is estimated at 
the immense sum of more than $344,000,000—while 
the gross amount of the Wheat produced was little 
more than $145,000,000. 
Pounds. Value. 
Tobacco,. 218,909,000 $8,756,360 
Cotton,. 1,066,000,000 74,620,009 
Rice,. 119,199,500 3,575,985 
Sugar,.275,000.000 13,750,000 
Silk,. 400,000 800,000 
Hops,. 1,566;301 140,667 
Beeswax,. 789,525 165,800 
Honey,. 23,665,750 2,368,575 
The prices are thus given: 
Tobacco, 
Cotton,.., 
Rice, 
Sugar, ... 
4 cents. 
7 “ 
3 “ 
5 « 
Silk,. 
Hops, 
Beeswax, 
Honey,... 
$2 00 
9 
21 
10 
The quantity of molasses is estimated at 9,600,- 
000, which, at 28 •§ cents, realized $2,736,000. 
Wine, 500,000 gallons, which, at $1, brought 
$500,000. 
The annual value of pasturage is put down at 
$60,768,136. 
The value of the residuum of crops, such as straw, 
chaff, &c., $100,000,000. Of manure, $60,000,000. 
Product of orchards, $9,071,130. Of gardens, 
$45,000,000. Nurseries, $741, 917. 
Butchers 5 meat, including mutton, beef and pork, 
$146,597,360. 
Hides, felt and tallow, $20,000,000. 
Neat Cattle, $4,401,470. Horses, mules and 
asses, $8,129,350. Poultry, $11,680,512. Eggs, 
