The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-05-23
From The Darlington F7og.l
~EfcRaCElnS.

E'CBaCEERS.
Mn. EpIroE 1T IS gratifying 10
perceive that the public mind is grad
nally becoming aroused on tic subject
OF the present system of enclosures
Permit me to contribute my mite,
however small, to the lnass Of ,rsii'
1mony which has been already aduuced
in favor Of an entire change Of the
present wasteiul and destructive poll
cy OF being compelled by law to en-
close our com and cotton feds TO
prevent the incursions Of gaun, and
furnishing cattle and hogs which rrowl
like speclres about our fences III search
of something 10 prevent ata~rvnt!on.--
The present is the old colonial system,
which was adopted in the Infancy o.!
tho country when the fields were small
and the stock very extensive, and the
advocates of reform have to contend
with the invetera,c prejudiees which
attach! to ancient usages, and. the re-
yercd authority of an lunored alccs'
isy. If our fathers (blcss their mem
ories!) with all their prudc;.cc and
foresight in many lhinss,--yet with
The iniirinity common To humanity,
chose to carry their wheat iii one end
ofthc bag and a stone of cores ond'
ing weight for n balance in the other,
We are surely not bound by the laws
s of; reverence and filial devotion to
them. to resist our convictions that
the grain can be balanced without The
stone, and it be dispensed with as II
dead weight. The present system of
ttncing2isa dead weight upon the vital
interests Of the agricultural commune
ty. =! lis then drop the stone and
pot half the weight III the otl'r end OF
the bag Can it be done? The qucs'
ton is supertluous, unless my ilIuotra'
ton be considered rs inappropriate
and inapplicab!e. That it is not, is |
think, susceptible of convincing propl.
With the exception Of aicw localities.
stock cannot maihtain IL thrifty cundi'
tion by exclusive dependence upon the
range. The crib and the glca'.i.:gs Of
The fields must come to tacir rescuc,
or their hides soon adhere 20 th-ir
bones, with a ;cna;ity which nothing
short Of decomposition can Lctach.
The fencing necessary to keep stock
out. of our fields involves all outlay Of
timber and labor utterly dispropor'
toned to the value Of stock. While
this is frequently admit,cd, it is Still
urged by some that the supply Of tim
Der warrants the outlay. l. it true
thatrthe abundance of timber i~ustliics
the ~extravagant and unnecessary wants
to which it is subjected ~ the present
system? ] submit that it is not. The
noble Forest is u mugmiiicen. gilt O.!
the Author Of nature, to be priced like
all other gifts from the same source,
J. rs a treasure to be preserved for lice
essary Uses. Any other appropriation
of, is e1uivalaat to the destruction
of 50 much capi,al--thc throwing in;o
the fire, Of SO much money. W!J
should we thus continue 10 slight 50
noble a gift, and taercby rob rostcrity
of a valuable inheritance! Timber
however is becoming very scarce III
many sections Of our country, and
hence the more urgent necessity Of
ceonomising it. The saving OF labor
too, is q consideration Of very great
importance. Were the labor row SO
unprrGtably expended upon fencing,
employed in mm"ring, dilc''ing aud
raising and gathering the surplus pro-
sYender necessary to the support ,f
enclosed stock, it would work IL change
in the value of land and stock invoiy
ing millions Of dollars.
A law requiring the enclosure Of
stock would reduce fencing to an i'll
considerable item, and tend to reduce
the timber and greatly improve the
quality Of stock. One well led Cow
might then be made more. profitable
than a dozen of the gaunt skeletons
that now haunt our lanes, and adver
tise our want Of humanity. ~ few
hogs well fed and cared for, could then
be made more valuable than a nerd OF
the present pine root eaters that scarce
ly betray by their locks; the genus to
which they belong. The pcnninS Sys.
tenn would then follow, and by indus.
try and we'll directed economy, an
astonishing amount of manure, proper
tionedein value to the improved keep.
ing of the animals, might be- made.
l hope that every Agricultural Soci
ETY., and every secular paper IN the
State, will agitntc this subject with IL
zeal and ability equal 10 its import
ance. hope every argument in favor
OF the present system, will be present
ed and fairly weighed; for | acknowl.
edge that there are arguments in its
favor entitled 10 consideration; at the
sartettime that i feel free to character.