THE CULTIVATOR. 
181 
and produces a much stronger effect than when confined to a flue. 3. In 
regard to the rotary steam engine—we believe it can and will be made 
subservient to all the stationary purposes of the farm, where water, wind 
or horse power are not preferred. The same power, we have little doubt, 
will soon be employed to propel all the stationary machinery of the farm. 
4 As to manures, we would have no stercorary. We would prefer, to it, 
under the stables, a cistern, for the liquid manure only. We hold that 
all w inter made manure should be applied in spring, to hoed crops, before 
fermentation has progressed tar. That coming from the stables may be 
benefitted by being kept under-cover,Though we think it equally service¬ 
able to have it spread in the cattle yard, that it may be mixed with its lit- 
ter, and subjected to the tread of the cattle. It will then neither become 
fire’-fanged, nor undergo excessive fermentation, before it can be employ¬ 
ed for the hoed crop. But if stercoraries are 1 used, under beams, stone 
walls, in a clay soil, and a stiff clay bottom, will,'after a little time, be- 
come’sufiiciently retentive to prevent the loss of liquids; but ample ven¬ 
tilation is required to prevent the rapid decay of the timber and plank of 
the floor. Give no air, says our friend Tomlinson, or give a free circula¬ 
tion, if you would preserve wood in floors. 
HEDGING. 
Poolesville, Montgomery co. Md. November 20th, 1837. 
Mr. Editor,— Dear Sir,—Having noticed several articles in the Cul¬ 
tivator on the subject of hedging, none of which I think are well calcu¬ 
lated to assist and encourage those who wish to commence the business. 
Having had some experience myself in thorn hedging, I will endeavor to 
give you the process from first to last, for the benefit of all w'ho wish to 
try it I obtained the information from an Englishman about twenty-five 
years ago, who had devoted his attention to hedging in this country. The 
sprouting process I purchased as a secret, which I agreed not to divulge 
so long as he lived in the settlement; he is long since dead, so I am re¬ 
leased” and cheerfully give the information. The berries should be ga¬ 
thered’when ripe, and spread on a loft, where they may remain until about 
the first of February, when they must be soaked until the pulp becomes 
soft, which will ohly require a few days in a cellar; then they must be 
carefully mashed, so as not to break the seeds, and the pulp washed off' 
by rubbing the seed in a vessel of water, and pouring oft' the pulp until 
the seeds are perfectly clean; in this moist state the seed must be kept in 
a tight vessel, in a cool and damp place, covered with a wet cloth, and 
turned upside down, or out of one vessel into another, about once a week, 
or as often as necessary, to prevent them from becoming too dry on top. 
As early in March as in the season will admit a seed bed must be prepar¬ 
ed, which I would advise to be new land, inclining to be a little moist. If 
the ground be burnt first so much the better. About this time you will 
find the seeds begin to burst; as soon as they generally begin to open and 
some to sprout, sow them broad cast, pretty thick, and cover them about 
one inch deep, by taking the surface earth with a spade, or shovel, out of 
trenches, wide enough for a man to stand in, at the distance of four feet 
apart, through your bed; which trenches serve to stand in to pick the 
weed’s from the young plants, which must be particularly attended to, as 
the plants at first are very tender, and would be lost by letting the weeds 
overrun them at first. If the weather is favorable, and the seed in a pro¬ 
per state, they will be up in a week, and will grow the first season from 
twelve to eighteen inches high, the largest will do to plant in hedge the 
next spring, and the balance the spring following. I would here remark, 
that I have only used the Maryland or Virginia white or hawthorn, which 
are five-seeded small red berries, but I have no doubt that the Same pro¬ 
cess would have the same effect with the other vaiieties. 
■ The next thing to be considered is the planting. The line on which to 
plant the hedge should be cultivated the season previous to planting, to pre¬ 
pare it for the reception of the quicks the following spring. As early in spring 
as the land will admit, stir the line with the plough and harrow, then draw 
a deep and straight furrow with two horses, in which to set quicks, hav¬ 
ing the quicks prepared for planting, which is done by choping the tops 
off three or four inches above thte root, also the long ends of the roots; they 
may be set against one side of the furrow, eight inches apart, which I find 
by experience close enough, and the furrow filled with the surface earth, 
and pressed to the roots with the feet, having one on each side, in this 
way a great deal may be done in a short time. The young hedge should 
be kept clean with the plough and hoe for several years, and must also be 
protected from stock, until it gets above their reach, especially early in 
spring, as cattle are very fond of browsing the young thorns. In six or 
eight years in good land with good nursing they may be plashed, which 
completes the fence. This operation is performed by commencing at the 
south or west end of the line, according to the direction it may run, and 
laying them down on the north or east side. Have stakes prepared, one 
end pointed, about four and a half feetlong, they are tobedriven in aline 
about one foot from the line of the hedge, from thirteen to twenty four in¬ 
ches apart, as the work progresses. First trim off the brush which will 
be in your way, then cut the stalks about two-thirds off, near the ground 
or until they will bend down, beginning a little above ground, and chop 
ing downwards, then cut the stumps smooth upwards. The stakes are 
driven firm as the work goes on, and the thorns laid one over another be¬ 
tween the stakes; this will leave the stumps on the sun side, and clear of 
the brush, and will raise as high as the stakes when the hedge is laid down 
to complete it; it will be necessary to wattle two small poles, split will do, 
along the lop of the stakes, to keep all in place; these stakes and wattling 
will last until the hedge has grown strong enough to require no further 
support. When the hedge is laid down as above, it will turn any kind of 
stock except hogs, and it will be very difficult to make any hedge a com¬ 
plete barrier against these animals, as they will push through without re¬ 
gard to the spines. The young growth, which will put up from the stumps 
and stalks, must be cut every year, and not suffered to grow higher than 
you wish your fence. The thorn is very tenacious of life, and the begin¬ 
ner need not apprehend any danger of their dying from cutting them as 
above directed. Plashing should commence as soon in spring as the frost 
will allow the stakes to be driven. A man will plash from eight to ten 
rods per day. The hedger-must be provided with leather mittens, and an 
instrument for cutting,''something like the following.* This should be 
|td)out five inches long in the blade, from three to four inches broad, of 
good substance in the middle, and brought to an edge on both sides. The 
hook also must have a continued edge, like a hook bill knife; the fork in 
the end is useful in placing the thorns; the shank is for the handle. Thus 
I have given you practice in hedging as well as I am capable; you may 
dispose of it as you think proper. 
Now, sir, I think the Cultivator a very valuable periodical, well calcu¬ 
lated to improve American husbandry, which certainly is in a wretched 
state, shewing almost every defect and also the remedies. But how can 
I avail myself of all those advantage, and others in my situation, being 
possessed of a worn out gravelly and watery farm, which will yield no 
surplus for experiments or improvements? But still remain a constant 
reader and well wisher of the Cultivator. 
JOHN A. CHISWELL. 
BAKEWELL SHEEP. 
Albany, Nov. 23, 1837. 
J. Buei. —Dear Sir—In perusing your valuable'paper, a communica¬ 
tion from Mr. Cliff struck my attention, wishing you to contrast the dif¬ 
ference between his Lincoln and Leicester sheep. I do not feel satisfied 
in letting the latter be so much degenerated without comment. Having 
bad much experience in cultivating that breed in England, and from that 
I feel assured there must be Some mismanagement, imprudent selection 
of rams, or his original ewes inferior, to allow Bakewell’s improvement 
in fleece to be lowered to 3 lb. 12 oz. 
Before you make your distinction, allow me to refer you to the flock of 
Thomas Dunn, Esq. of this city; though not thorough bred Leicesters, 
differ but little; one cross from the Cotswold has given them a little more 
wool and constitution; a judicious selection of rams has yearly improved 
his fleece and carcase, and should the next three years’ improvement be 
equal to the past three, I have a favorable opinion that his flock will be 
equal to any in England; and I have no scruple in saying, they are now 
superior to any other flock in this country. I have viewed his last spring 
lambs with gratification, and think they will bear the inspection of the 
most experienced judges, who, I have no doubt, would grant, that much 
merit is due fo him for his exertion to improve. He has given me a 
statement of fleeces of hjs yearling rams, which are as follows: 
2 yearlings,..... 22 lbs. 
4 do. 42 lbs. 
4 do. .... 36Jlbs. 
10 ' 100J lbs. 
averaging 10 lbs. each. When he has weighed his whole cut of wool, I 
will endeavor to send you the average. 
I feel inclined to believe that Leicesters are valuable, but may be im¬ 
proved with a cross with the Cotswold, and if reduced to a small size and 
;ht fleece, a cross with the Lincoln would much improve them. 
The admiration T. D.’s six weathers excited in the Albany market, on 
the 22d of February last, added much to the credit of his flock: their 
quality of mutton, smallness of bone, with a heavy carcase, were consi¬ 
dered very superior by all who saw them. 
Six more of his weathers were sold to Mr. Fitzgile3 of New-York, in 
March, for twenty-eight dollars each, which is positive proof that Leices¬ 
ters are valuable. 
I am, dear sir, yours most truly, 
WM. HENRY SOTHAM. 
P. S. Since writing the above, I- have had a communication from Mr. 
John Wilkinson, of Duanesburgh, stating that his flock of Leicesters cut. 
a little over 6 lbs. on an average. 
[Mr. Solon Robinson will please acceptour.grateful acknowledgments, 
for the box and contents described below, which have come safely to 
hand. Mr. Robinson is located in the north part of Indiana, near Lake Mi¬ 
chigan. The liberal example of Gen. Cock, and of Mr. Robinson, in 
The cut was forgotten till too late, but will be given in our next. 
