The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-04-28

be two or three in a place, they will push out and be
large onions. Plant the drills about II inches apart,
so that you may work among them easily.
!
Fences.
| In a country like this, where so many millions OF
dollars are invested in fences, and especially in this
Western country, where timber in many places is com.
paratively scarce, it becomes a matter of the utmost I'M
portancc to the farmer, how he may combine economy
with beauty and fertility. The Editor, I notice, has
recently touched upon this subject, and with what few
suggestions he was pleased to make, I heartily coincide
but the subject is unlimited, and I trust l shall not
overstep the bounds of ~propriety in calling attention to
it again.
Nothing adds SO much to the beauty of the farm as
good substantial fences, and nothing gives such strong
indications of thrift. A man may live in a fine house
have all necessary outbuidings, &C., but if his fences
are in q rickety condition, the traveller will remark, as
he passes by, there lives a shiftless farmer. No man
likes to be called by such a name but 1 am sorry to
say that to too many in almost every community, it can
be applied with the greatest ~propriety. It has often
been remarked that poor fences make unruly cattle, and
the saying is no less true t. i trite, for if a mere apollo.
gy for a fence is made, to inclose a field of grain, the
first drove Of cattle that comes along, seeing something
more tempting on the opposite side, makes an effort to
jump over or break down the fence, which being so
easily done, emboldens them to renew the attack upon
other, and perhaps better fences, whenever a suitable
opportunity offers, until they become so expert in their
exploits that TO fence will confne them within bounds ;
whereas had they not been enticed by a poor, de%ceitful,
sham fence, in the FIRST place, might have remained
quiet, orderly brutes all their days.
Tbo c.oo<:oo IS tro %b,oo -. Eo..,., :o:c:r.
fences, as it is called, for the purpose of enclosing as
large an area as possible with a small amount of fencing
material, thus leaving the lines between farms open, is
in my opinion a very prolific source of contention.
Perhaps at first, when commencing in a prairie country
it cannot we'll be avoided, but in the course of q year or
two, line fences should by all means be built.
1t is not necessary for one to urge this point all
farmers will agree with me that good fences are neoes-
sary appurtenances of a farm, and will erect them &C.
~cordingly wherever needed.
Admitting this to be the case, the question would
naturally arise, what constitutes a good fence? A fence
may be called good when it possesses these three quail
ties, viz: sufficient heighth, strength and durability /;
and these can be obtained by different methods, the
most common among which are the old fashioned worm,
rail fence, post and rail, and post and board fence.
OGueTS Udy nave tUeT pEt!cTCUCtS3 i nave WlQc,d uO /
propose in this article to show the difference in cost of
the different kinds of fences named, and their relative
merits. Let us take 80 rods as the basis of our calcu.
lat;ons, and to build that distance of worm fence it will
require 1900 rails IL feet long, and about $50 stakes,
3 feet long.
We have then 200 rails at % per hundred, $4,000
We have then $50 stakes at 81 per hundred, 700
Hauling material at least, 10 90
Putting up the fence, .r-. 800
Making the cost Of 80 rods Of fence. $4,000
There are other objections against this kind Of fence
besides its cost. It occupies too much space, at least
8 feet in width, and then it involves more labor in
keeping it in repair than some other kinds. 1t is very
liable to be blown by the wind, and the stakes rot off in
a few years, which makes it necessary to sharpen and
reset them. And the the great amount Of timber, which
the construction Of such a fence requires, is, in this
country, a sufficient objection if no other were urged.
I am glad that this kind Of fence is generally getting
into disuse.
A post and rail fence to be Of the right kind, should
be something after this sort the posts should be seven
feet long, so as to set two feet in the ground, the first
u~.ortise to be made four feet from the end, which will
bring the first rail two feet from the ground, and the
remaining mortises at equal distances toward the top.
In this way a substantial fence ~ feet high can be
made very cheap'y, and will be sufficient to secure the
crop against everything except hogs, and they should
never be allowed to run at large.
The cost of this fence may be set down as follows:
Cost of mortising 1875 posts, $1,000
1875 posts at 81 per hundred, 8.75
$50 rails at s. per hundred, 1880
Hauling the material, 400
Putting up the fence, 600
Making the cost Of 80 rods, 1925
For a post and board fence the same distance, it will
require M
100 posts at 81 per hundred, $11.20
1000 feet of lumber at els per NJ, 5000
Hauling the material, 900
SO lbs. of nails, 800
Labor building fence, s 900