Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-06
A Cheap and Good Fence.

As the timber in many portions Of cur coun-
try is becoming scarce, it becomes matter of
much interest to know how we may c>onomize,
and do the most fencing with a little timber.
Hedging is the remedy to which our minds most
generally turn, and perhaps the means which
we shall have, at some day. when our necessities
are greater, to adopt We propose a plan re-
ouring much less timber than our old fashioned
rail fence--equally secure, and easier kept in re-
pair. 1t is simply to cut ditch three c. three
and a half feet wide at top, sopcd to about two
feet at the bottom, and three feet deep Before
commencing, let posts be set slightly in the
ground in a strai chit row, on the side to which
the dirt is to be thrown, and at such distance
from the edge Of the ditch as will mike the
row to correspond with the greatest clo.ation Of
the earth which is thrown out. This excavated
earth should be thrown Just far enough from the
ditch not to slide back or be easily washed into
it again by rain. The posts thus deposited will
be well planted by the earth which will be thrown
around them, without further trouble, only need
ing to be Strengthened up little to make the
line true The top of this loose earth should be
slnoothed to line or level, with hoe or rake
so that the first plank shall rest u2on it. This
done the ponking may commence. The base
plank should be twelve inches wide and one
inch thick above this space OF four inches,
then plank of six inches wide, then space of
six inches. and another six inch plank. Saw of:
the tops of the posts, and the fence is compile
ted
The posts should be planted at the distance
of eight feet from each other, and the plank SIX
teen feet long, and the joints should alternate,
so that each succeeding plank should join on a
different post from that below. The posts for
this fence may be split like rails from any suita.
BILE timber, anu one side Strengthened, on which
the planks are to benailed. If greater upatness
be dcsir d. the posts may be sawed. They should
be about four or five inches square, and will be
required to be about five and half feet long,
three feet Of which should stand above the level
of the earth thrown on the side OF the ditch.
This may seem to be low, and insecure against
bad stock but our observation jutiies us in say
in", no such danger may be apprehend"d. With
plank at one dollarper hundred, the cost Of the
fence would be two cents 4 foot. Ii the lUsts
be split, their cost would be but small item,
and the nails almost nothing. If sawed the
additional cost may be easily estimated and we
apprehend in most cases, in either event, will be
found below the cost of the rail fence. The
dtchng NAV seem formidable undertaking.
but any field laborers may soon learn to execute
it with neatncss and despatch, and once done,
remains permanent-rcquiring little repairs =
and if hedging afterwards be desirable, the ditch
will greatly ala i'll the speedy prosecution Of that
purpose. On many farms requiring to be drain
ed, the bitches may be so arranged as to an
swer the double purpose Of drying the land and
forming the fence.
We have done some little work of this sort
enough 20 test its practcability, theapncss' and
security, and therefore speak advisedly in all
that we say. Not FIR IRON this city, fence of
thi, kind has been put up by a very neat planter,
which is both a protection and an ornament to
the farm, and will no doubt commend itself to
the favorable consideration of those who see it.
We have planted all our days, under the pro-
lection Of an old fashioned rail fence, and would
not hastily desert tried friend, but the ciFcum
stances Of the country are rapidly changing, and
it is now at cost Of no little timber that our
fences are kept up. and any change which shall
lessen these drafts upon our wasted forests, would
be dcsrablc-!SOI Of tie South.