The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-02-28
:farmry' s department.
From The Farm Journal.
COST OF FENCiNG-uEDGES.


upon the shoulders of the farmer than
fencing Having had considerable
quantity OF fencing to put up within the
last twelve months, my attention has
been drawn more closely to the subject
and reflection has satisfied me Of the
fact that it is not only one of the most
expensive items in farming, but that the
day il coming when we shall be com.
PEELED to resort to some substitute for
the present mode of fencing. ltrequires
but a moments thought TO satisfy any
person that oar forests are rapidly dis
appearing, and with them the materials
for rails
Frequent attempts TO construct a du-
rable i-nce with wire has been made,
and have read more than dozen dii-
ferent articles giving directions for their
construction. Bul wherever these d.
rectiom have been follow ed, the result
has been the next thing to a failure.
We Of course would not despair of arri-
wing at such knowledge on the subject
as will enable US to construct a Wire
fence that will be as etiectual as the
present wooden ones, but the dav may
be distant and possibly never arrive.
Hedging has strong claims upon the
farmers attention, and might unqu"s-
tionabiy be made to answer the purpose
fully. The only OH ction to the hedge
is, that it requires too much attention
TO suit the ncinations and tastes of the
generality Of farmers. Nothing beauti-
iies landscape more than fine hedges,
but nj the same time the labor and skill
required to keep them in order, are
greater than would be given to them,
aud as consequence we should soon
have unsightly affairs. With men of
ta.te and perseverance, they would sue
coed admirably: but with the careless
farmer they would soon be worse than
the wire fence. In many parts Of Eu-
rope, we are told that fencing has been
wholly abandoned. Where large hocks
or herds are kept, herdsmen are en-
plovsd to watch them, and it has been
found that this systt m works admirably
Now fit is less expensive in Europe
than the plan We are following, why
not adopt il here 1t may be answer
ed that the great scarcity and conse-
quent high price Of fencing, compelled
the Europeans to do this. Admit it,
and we shall soon find, for the very
same reasons, we shall sooner or later be
compelled to follow in their footsteps.
But az it will. be wholly impracticable
tolnduce our farmers to employ herds
men now, would suggest another plan,
which my own experience juStiiies me
in nending, and which know
can be prohtably adopted.
Instead OF farming my cattle into pas
ture during the summer, kept them in
my cattle yard, where sheds were have
been erected to protect them from the
heat otthe sun and the rain, &C. Twice
day, morning and evening, a sufficient
amount OF grass is cut and carried into
shed, from which il is divided out TO
the cattle. The advantages are two
told. First, saving OF pasture, as
find that little more than one halt
will answer the purpose, while the cat
tie are in Just as fine condition as when
permitted to run in the field Second,
the manure is all kept together in the
yard, and as make it point to have it
all collected every morning and thrown
under a shed erected for the purpose,
find immense advantage in this particu-
lar.
1t appears to me that this plan might
OF adopted, and by means of it obvlate
the necessity of at least one half of the
fencing, now absolutely required upon
our farms. The expense Of cutting,
cartlng, and feeding the grass will be
repaid by the smaller amount of pasture
required and the great advantage of
having the manure during the hot months
under shed, instead of being exposed to
the wasting influences of the sun, rain,
&c. Besides this, the saving in the
amount of fencing is a large Item. Take
for instance, farm of one hundred
acres; divided into fields of ten acres
each. No other fencing would be need
ed than the dividing fence between
ne'ghhors. have made rough calcu-
letlon Of the amount saved upon a hum
drcd acre farm divided as above, and find
that ii amounts, at i, 1855 per PANEL, to
the handsome sum Of eleven hundred
and fifty dollars. This supposes the
fencing to be good post and rail- With
this view of the case and fully convin-
ced that it is the best plan that can be
adopted, have determined never to re-
new the fencing on my farm. So soon
as it needs repairs will remove it en-
tirely, thereby saving not only in the
particulars already enumerated, but al
so in the use of the land occupied by
the fences, which is another item ofim-
rortancc.
If any Of your correspondents can
suggest better plan, it is to be hoped
thew will do 1t, as the subject is one of