Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1891 — THE FARM AND HOUSE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FARM AND HOUSE.

SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO AGRICULTURAL READERS. i About Post*—How to Lay Plank Walk* and Stable Flodrs Cultivating; Field Beets—Wall-Pocket for Magazine*—Liberal Feeding—Tlie Poultry Yard. THE FARM. About Posts. On this subject G. F. Wilcox, of New York State, writes as follows to the American AijrtculturUit: Last spring 1 dug out a line of fence posts that had been in the ground more

than twenty-one years, and had occasion to compare the relative durability of chestnut and yellow locust. The chestnut posts were nearly all so far decayed that they would readily break at the surface of the ground, but the locust posts, to all appearance, had twenty years moro of service in them as posts. One gate post, locust, about one toot in diameter, was rotton to the depth of an inch in thickness around the outside. Beneath this the wood was sound, hard and uncolored. Iti appears a peculiarly of the locust that the wood does not I readily become affected in its interior. Decay is complete as -'ar as it goes, but it goes very owly. I have also removed a grapevine trellis, built with large posts over twenty years ago. All the posts were chestnut but one, and that was yellow locust. The chestnut posts

were decayed clear through, imi*kovbut the locust was not affectedkdpost. to,the depth of more than half an Inch. I think that post would stand fifty years' more. ■» Is it not worth while to grow yellow locust? The only drawback is the borer, and that usually is not universal. The locust is easily propagated from seed, and is a rapid grower. I have known a seedling to grow seven feet in height in one season. Under favorable conditions the tree will easily increase from half to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, each year, for the first twenty years. I should think it would be the best of all timber for railroad ties unless its hardness prevents driving spikes. Figure out what ten .acres of locust timber well set and cared for until the trees attain a diameter of ten inches and a height of forty feet would be worth. It might be a better investment than a life insurance, and cheaper, besides affording some pleasure in looking at it. The post as well as the fence of the future_will be of iron. With the abundance and cheapness of this metal it ought not to be very far in the future. Tho iron posts now on the market, are either too costly, or too light for durability. Probably angle iron will be the form and material of the future iron post, and I wiil here suggest a form for the opinion of experts. The two points at which a post should not yield, to stand well, are the bottom and at the surface of the ground. In this model great bearing at the surface is obtained by riveting to the post a section of much larger angle iron. The bottom of the podt is simply spread by hammering when hot. This makes a post like the one shown in the illustration. Of course the post could be driven into tho ground, and wind and frost would little affect it. Holes should be punched to tie wires in. How to Lay Flank Walks and Stable Floor*. If the reader will study the grain in the end of the planks In any walk, or as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that in the first the grain forms successive cups or gutters, which catch and hold the rain water, which causes the plank to decay quickly. It will also be seen that the same grain as it runs along the face of the plank makes long, sharp splinters, which in rain and shine

■soon warp up and endanger the feet, and tear the dresses and are unsafe in many ways, besides rotting out the planks so much quicker. Now turn this same plank over, as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be seen how each close grain makes a little roof over its fellow,and all liquids percolate through the loose grain and drain away, allowing the plank to dry quiekiy, while the splinters are nowhere to be seen. Planks and boards should therefore be laid properly as in Fig. 3>and not as in Fig. 1. —American Agriculturist. Cultivating Field Beets. Beets for early table use are usually planted much too closely for profit, though if to be used while young the narrow spaces between the rows may be allowable. But the main crop for stock, and these are also just as good for the table if grown without eheck, should be planted in rows three feet apart, so that the work can be mainly done by the cultivator. If the beets grow without any interruption, the largest will not be tough or hollow. These defects are caused by hot, dry weather, which shrivels the leaves. After this rains may start the beet to growing again, but it will never be as good as it would had growth never been stopped for a single day.

FIG. 1. WRONG WAY. FIG. 2. RIGHT WAY.