size are used in the construction of French drains.

To succeed well with your summer fallow, it is necessary to have the
sod all turned over with the plough by the end of May, or sooner if
possible. Shortly afterwards the fallow should be well harrowed; in
July it should be crossed, ploughed and harrowed, and rolled at least
twice before the final ploughing or ridging up, which should be
completed by the last week in August.

Fall-wheat should be sown between the first and fifteenth day of
September.* The sooner the better, in my opinion, because the plant is
stronger and better able to withstand the frost, and is decidedly less
liable to rust. Our fallow having been prepared in this manner, and
sown broad-cast with fall-wheat, the next object was to fence in the
field securely, which is done in the following way. Trees of a straight
growth and straight also in the grain are selected and cut into twelve
feet lengths, and are then, by the means of a beetle and wedges, split
into rails as nearly four inches square as possible. The rails are then
laid in a zigzag direction, crossing each other about a foot from the
end, making an angle of about six feet. Seven rails in height, crowned
by a stake and rider, complete the fence. The best timbers for making
rails, are pine, cedar, oak and black and white ash: these kinds of
timbers will last about thirty years. Bass-wood is more commonly used
for the first fences, because it is to be procured in greater
abundance, and splits more easily; but as it will not last more than
ten years, I would not recommend settlers to use it, if the other sorts
can readily be obtained.

[* "Fall" is the term usually applied to wheat sown in the autumn by
the Canadian farmer, and will be used in this sense throughout a work