Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-05
For The EnQNirer.

Messrs. Editors Some time ago, you invited
your subscribers 10 send you practical articles on
agricultural Subjects and il is matter Of resrel
that your design in this respect has not been Sc
conded. You nave on your list the names OF
many successful lilleTs Of the soil, who ale also
NOT unpraclised writer's. Your readers, To a large
extent, are o: the same class and would, doubt
less, be glad TO find in the Enquirer agricultural
information a valuable as that gives US on 20
lilicaI affairs II is 10 be hoped, you WHY yet make
il rs welcome 10 the farmer as il IS 10 The poli-
clan. Two or three columns Of every issue, de-
voted 10 this purpose would increase its popular
ily. enlarge lis sphere Of influence as political
journal, furnish Invaluable information 10
class OF readers who will not take more Than one
paper, and will have the Enquirer and also max
il more profitable 10 its proprielors. All these
ends are certainly TO be desired.
Remembering your invitation, intend 10 Of
fer Won few short parcrs, on strictly asricnltn-
raj subjects. But in this communication wish
10 call your attention 10 matter intimately con-
nected with culiivaling the soil, and OF no small!
inheritance Ii is the law vi enclosures, or the
fence law 1t is 50 we'll known 10 The people,
that no statement Of il is necessary 10 my pur-
pose. II requires every landholder 10 keep his
lands enclosed with "lawfu fence" 10 secure il
from The depreiatons Of stock. II his lands he
uncnclosed, or il the enclosure he not Lawful,
they become common 10 every neighbours ami
mails, and, al law, there is no remedy ioT TIE
owner.
am one al the increasing number OF those
who regard this law as an evil, and desire its
amendment. Ii is not my purpose TO enlarge
upon this fruitful theme. My object is 10
enlist Others in the cause OF opposition 10
lhe law and an effort Tor lis alteration
lis a sullec, OF concern TO our Lcgisla'ule-ior
itGeeply Influences The prosperity OF The Stale, as
we'll OF individuals. II has had much 10 do in
causing The rapid emigration OF our citizens, and
without speedy remedy, il will do mnchmore in
depopulaliDg The Old Dominion. Our best forest
lands a:e all "cleared" and most Of them are i'm
povcrshed or exhausted. Many large fields
have been thrown out OF cultivation as prohlless
and Eastern Virginia is emphatically land Of
euips The lands wearing out, their owners
sell for a song, and seek homes in richer re-
sions. Few have the means for improving
fast enough, though many have The dispo-
sition 10 do il; and one OF The most COM
mon, and mol The least potent, Of the causes
of this inability is, that fencing demands SO large
a portion of our labor. II is one OF The heaviest
Jobs on The land owners hands IL must be
done. TOO. in The winter monlhs-lhe best season
for making manure ; and on numerous estates
the labor is increased by the fact that all the best
timber has been consumed, and only the more In
different remains Il is sale proposition, that
large portion OF emigrants from Virginia would
remain, if there were more judlcous laws abouI
enclosures. Il may also be safely assumed, iha
the labor requisite Tor making and repairing fen
ces-and that might he spared under better laws
would be sufficient 10 double The quantity oi
manure now made on The average OF farms
In most neighbour DDS il is the practice 10
leave parts OF The lands nnencosed. These
seem as commons" to The stock Of all within
reach The sheep, hogs, cows, &c, &c, oil hall
a dozen propretors are ranging round The cult
vated lands OF some man; and between The
rails Of his fence, or over IL, Their long
ing eyes feast upon scene oil luxurlance
compared with The grazed and lrodden com
mons" Urged by hunger and The prospect Of
richer fare, they learn 10 leap over, throw down
or roo, under even "lawiul" fence, and, in
single day or night, destroy The work OF weeks
This may be repeated again and again, and, IN
most cases, there is no remedy. II is difficult,
and generally impossible, 10 prove the offence
and The trespasser, so as 10 give success 10 sun
for damages The remedy Of the law is rracli-
caIly of liue or no avail. lis insufficency, how
ever. has induced or compelled The adoption OF
practice that has more effect as preventive
When the law does not protect, men are prone
10 make laws for themselves, and execute Them
also Blu, this is great evil, and opens the
way for evil. greater still. But il is we'll
known tact, that The fear OF injury 10 stock by
neighbours gun or dogs j. much more efectual
than the fear OF being "casl," in an action for
trespass. The good nalured neighbor, who does
not adopt this remedy, is poached upon with i'm
punily.
Il is not only necessary 10 fence your lands
from the commons; you must have lawful
fence between your crops and those OF your
neishbor; ard frequently his lean fields are his
pasture range, while your wheat or corn grows
Just over The fence. In such cases, hasty tall
of rain gathering along bottom or branch,
or strong wind, often opens The way for The
entrance OF his stock-or they frequently break
through the barrier and, sometimes, when your
nciphbor is no, particularly honest, they get in
as il by magic and your labor and your hopes
are gone. Hence spring endless quarrels and
bad feelings. Illustrations OF This kind might be
abundantly multiplied and varied.
The fence law is oppressive 10 the class Of
smaller lapdholders. This may be questioned, bu,
not successfully. You have 1000 acres-your
mex, neiehbor $50 and whether you enclose The
whole or only proportional paris Of each tract, i;
requires half as much fencing for the smaller as
for your large one. Simplify The Thing by reduc.
ing The surfaces proporionally. The smaller
tract i. one-fouuh OF the larger. An acre is
about 10 yards square-2so yards of fencing will
surround il. One quarter OF an acre is IS yards
square-il requires l4O yards 10 enclose it-that
is Just half Now suppose, as is generally the
case, that your respective forces are in proper
ton as your lands, and The proposition is eslah-
lished.
have heard men say they have no hope of
any efficient change OF the law until our Legs-
tors shall be compelled By necessity to change il,