Nebraska advertiser., 1868-01-23
Nebraska aOucrtiser
BRowNvrLLn, xnB. JANUARY "a. 1868.
FARMERS DEPARTMENT
For the Advertiser.
Fences-NO. /.

We see in your issue of Jan. 16, thar
you invite discussion or interchange Of
opinions, through the columns of the
Advertiser, in regard to the different
modes of fencing.
Although we have not been in the hab.
il of writing for publication, we hope to
be, in the few remarks we have to make,
sufficiently plain to be understood by
your readers.
The subject of fencing is one of much
importance in this country, aud more par
ticularly is i. so to the people of Nebras-
ka on account of the scarcity of timber
for fencing purposes. And it is not un'
til within a short period of time that the
majority of farmers have begun to real
ize that the supply of timber for this
purpose will soon be exhausted, and when
the fences that are now standing, decay
and rot down, something must be sub.
stituted in their place. Hence, it is a
question of Importance which is best, a
board or rail fence, or hedge fence
All things considered it is generally con-
ceded that hedge is the cheapest; on
this there need be no question.
A good fence, stock proOf-such an
one as any farmer would wish to have on
his farm-cannot be made for less a.
mount than $l so per rod, lIn this con-
uection, would say that three rail fence
so called, cannot be considered stock
proof, for the reason that it is no protec.
tion whatever from hogs or sheep. which
are part of farmers stock, This fence,
allowing it to be we'll made with the
kind of lumber commonly used for the
purpose, will need repairing, say, from
the fourth year after its construction, un-
til it decays and rots down, say in four
years more. Then comes the same ex-
pense over again. That is: rebuilding
and repairing, which will be an annual
drain on the resources of the farmer. a.
side from losses of crops occasioned by
cattle breaking them down, which is al
ways a great annoyance, besides being
often a cause of litigation, and i'll will
among farmers.
The same objection will be equally ap-
plicable tc worm rail fences, if not made
with good oak, or other hard wood, which
will make the difference more striking
when the cost comes to be compared
with the hedge. Now with a hedge
fence, after it is stock proof, which will
be the fourth year from planting if prop
erly attended to, no such occurrence as
breaking down or getting over by breachy
stock, can ever happen. and the farmer
can rest contented, being assured that NO
stock of any kind is going to modest his
crops. And when the crop is out and
the stock turned in, he knows where to
find them, No occasion for spending a
week or two every fall hunting up his
stray stock. And the first cost of this
hedge is IS cents per rod, turned over
TO the owner stock proof. This being
the price that has been charged by hedge
contractors in this neIghbOrhOOd, who are
responsible men, and many miles haV-
ing already been planted at that price
the past season; although we doubt much
whether good, permanent stock proof
hedge can be made for a less amount
than one dollar. And even at that price
it leaves balance in favor of hedging
over board fence of so cents per rod
which amount will be sufficient to pay
for its annual trimming for eight or Ten
years.
Nothing adds more TO the beauty Of a
prairie home than well kept hedge.
There are several kinds of plants thai
have claims to some merit for hedging
Among which we may name the Honey
Locust, the Grab, Pyrus RiUuLdris. Haw'
thorn, Hornbeane and the Usage, The
latter of which. however, is most gen
erally used, as it takes longer time fOI
The other named plants to make stock
proof hedge; all being naturally slow
growers. But when made Of elther' II
makes an efficient fence.
Hedging is no mere an experiment in
this county, it having been practically
demonstrated. The best hedge we have
seen in this county is the property Of G.
! Grow, at Fairview.
The Usage delights in light, deep,
rich, dry soil and long dry Summer
il being a native of the Southern States,
aud found indigenous 10 Texas, Alabama,
Mezico and Tennessee, and ! believes in
some paris Of SOalhefn Missouri. aud