The best and cheapest method of barn-building is as follows:  In the winter season cut and square with the broad axe all the frame timber you require, and draw it home to the place you have fixed on for the building, and from the saw-mill all the lumber you require.  As soon as the weather is warm enough hire a framer, whose business is to mark out all the tenons and mortices, and to make or superintend the making of them.  When ready, the building is put together in what is called bents, each bent consisting of two posts, one on each side of the building, connected together by a strong beam running across the building.  The foundation is composed of twelve cedar blocks, three feet long, sunk two-thirds of their depth into the ground, one under each corner of the barn, and under the foot of each post.  These blocks support the sills, which are firmly united at the corner to the cross sills.  The bents, four in number, are then laid on this foundation, and are ready for raising, which is done by calling a “bee.”  Thirty-five men are ample for this service—­more are only in the way.  Every two persons should be provided with a light balsam or cedar pole, fifteen feet in length, shod at the end with a ring and strong spike.  These pike-poles are laid in order in front of the bent to be raised, one between each person.  All being ready, the framer-gives the word “attention,” when each man lays hold of the bent, one man being stationed at the foot of each post with a hand-spike, which he presses against it to prevent its slipping.  “Yeo heave!” is then shouted by the framer, at which every man lifts, waiting always for the word, and lifting together.  As soon as the bent is lifted as high as they can reach, the pike-poles are driven into the beam, and the bent is soon in a perpendicular position.  Several pikes are then stuck into the opposite side to keep the bent from being swayed over, until the tenons on the foot of the post is entered into the mortice on the sill:  it is then secured by stays, until the next bent is raised, when the girts connect them together.  In this manner all the bents are raised:  the wall-plates are then lifted upon the building which connect all the bents.  The tenon on the top of each post goes through the plate, and is firmly pinned; the putting up the rafters completes the frame.  The raising of a building of this size should not occupy more than three quarters of a-day.  No liquor should be served out to the swarm of working bees till the raising is over, as many serious accidents having occurred for want of this precaution.

I am particular in giving these descriptions, because I flatter myself they may prove useful to the future colonist.

The first week in September we commenced sowing our fall-wheat, and finished on the tenth, which is considered in good season.  I would by all means recommend early sowing, especially on old cleared farms.  Late sown wheat is more liable to winter-kill and rust.  In fact, you can hardly sow too early to ensure a good crop.