Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-02-11


jury from The intense hea, Of the sun.
From the Farm Journal.
COST OF FENCING-HEDGEs.
There is no heavier bur,hen resting upon
the shoulders of the farmer than fencing
Having had a considerable quantity Of fenc-
ing 10 put up within the last twelve months,
my attention has been drawn more closely
10 the subject, and reflection has satisfied
me of the fact that j. is no. only one of the
most expensive items in farming, bu, that
the day is coming when we shall be com.
PEELED 10 resort 10 some substitute for the
present mode Of fencing. !, requires bu,
moments thought to satisfy any person
that our forests are rapidly disappearing,
end with them the materials for rails.
Frequent attempts 10 construct durable
fence with wire has been made, and have
read more than dozen different articles
giving directions for their construction. But
wherever these directions have been follow
ed, the result has been the next thing to a
failure. We of course would not despair of
arriving at such knowledge on the subject
as will enable us to construct wire fence
that will be as effsc,ual as the presen. wood
en- ones, but the day may be distant and pos
sibIy never arrive.
Hedging has strong claims upon the farm
er's attention, and nigh! unqueslionsbly be
made to answer the purpose fully. The
only objection to The hedges is, that it re-
quires too much attention 10 suit the incli-
nations and tastes Of the generality Of farm
ers. Nothing beauties landscape more
than fine hedges, but al the same time the
labor and skill required to keep them in Or
der, are greater than would be given 10 them,
and as consequence we should soon have
unsigh,ly affairs. With men of taste and
perseverance they would succeed admirably,
but with the carelss farmer they would soon
be worse than the wire fence. In many
parts OF Europe, we are told that fencing
has been wholly abandoned. Where large
focks or herds are kept, herdsmcn are en-
ployed to watch them, and it has been found
that this system works admirably. Now
if it is less expensive in Europe than the
plan we are following, why not sdopt it
here 1t may be answered .ha. the great
scarcity and consequent, high price Of fenc-
ing material, compelled the Europeans to do
this. Admi. it, and we shall soon find, for
the very same reasons, we shall sooner or
later be compelled to follow in their foot
steps. But as it will be wholly impractical
ble to induce our farmers to employ herds
men now, ] would suggest another plan,
which my own experience jus,fes me in re-
commencing, and which know can be pro-
6.ably adopted.
Instead Of turning my cattle into pasture
during the summer, kept them in my cattle
yard, where sheds were have been erected
to protec. them from the heat of The sun and
the rain, SC. Twice>a day, morning and
evening, sufficient amount Of grass is cut
and carried into shed, from which i. is
divided out to the cattle. The advantages
are two fold. First, saving Of pasture, as
find that a little more than one half will
answer the purpose, while the cattle is in
jus. fine condition when permitted to
run in the fields. Second, the manure Is all
kept together in the yard. and as make it
pon, TO have it all collected every morn
ing and thrown under a shed erected for
the purpose, find Immense advantage in
this particular.
1t appears to me that this plan might be
adopted; and by means Of it obvia,e the ne
cessiy of a! least one half Of the fencing,
now absolutely required pom our farms. The
expense Of cutting, carting, 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. Be-
sides This, the saving in the amour. of fenc-
ing is large item. Take for instance, a
farm of one hundred acres, divided into
fields Of ten acres each. No other fenc-
ing would be needed than the dividing
fence between neighbors. ] have made a
rough calculation of the amount saved
upon hundred acre farm divided as above,
and find that it amounts, al $l,55 per
pannel. TO the handsome sum of eleven hun
dred and fifty dollars. This supposes the
fencing to be good post and rail. With this
view OF the case and fully convinced ths.
i. is the best plan thu, can be Adapted, lhavs
determined never 10 renew ,he fencing on
my farm So soon as it needs repairs | will
remove it entirely, thereby saving not only
in the particulars already enumerated, but
also in the use Of the land occupied by
the fences, which is another item Of impor-
tance.
lfany of your correspondents can suggest
better plan, it is to be hoped they will do
it, as the ssbjec. is one ofmuch importance.