The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-13
Fences.

A correspondent of the Southern Cultiva-
tor says:
| observe that the farmers of Georgia, are
agitating the question of stock law. We
think the very existence of the present sys-
TEN, is sad proof of the want of that enter
prise and intelligence which should charac
terize the Southern people. | will furnish
you with the substance of an article on this
subject. written by myself and published in
the Unionville Times last April
assume the position that the present
system of plantation fencing in the country,
is one which never has, and never will pay
expenses; that it is awakwark, cumbersome
and absurd, and that it can and should be
superseded by cheaper and better system.
That the foregoing is true, we think will ap,
pear from the following reasons:
A piece of land is cleared; but much of
the timber on it must be cut certain length
and split into pieces of convenient size, to
be carried out to the mrgn of the field and
piled in zig gag pile all around the ground,
to the height of about six feet. To say the
least, such performance is awkward, clumsy
and laborious.
But this is not ALL That timber is worth
something. The labor required to prepare
the rails, take them out and put them up
around the field is worth something. The
boarding of hands, the wear and tear of i'm
plements doing such work ars all worth
something. The rails will not be made and
placed around the field, ready for making
the fence for less than cent piece. The
fence averages eleven rails per PANEL, which
will be eleven cents per PANEL, for the rails.
A cent per PANEL, may be added for max
ing the fence. Hence the fence costs at the
outset, twelve cents per PANEL.
But this is not all. The land occupied by
the fence, must also be taken into considera.
ton. The fence will occupy space of land
six feet wide from outside to outside the ends
of the rails. The clocks" will average
twelve feet apart Three feet may be added
to the width of the fence for the turning of
stock in blowing; and if an inside fence six
feet may be added; three on each side. So
that the land rendered useless by every pan
mel of inside fence will average about seventy
two square feet; if an outside fence, sixty
square feet. Hence for every 1876 PANELS
of outside fence, one acre of land is occupied
and one acre to every 6123 PANELS of inside
fence; allowing 70 yards square to the acre.
How many hundreds of acres even in one
country, are rendered useless by fences!
Moreover, the corners of the fence will
grow up in brambles and bushes. A cent a
PANEL may be added per annum to keep
these down; another cent per PANEL for the
land. Now admit fence to last twelve
years. Two cents per PANEL may be added
for repairs during that time; which makes
the total cost of fence for twelve years q
cents per PANEL, and the writer thinks this
estimate is too small
Let the farmer estimate the number of
pannels of fence on his farm, and then he
can easily estimate the average cost of his
fences per year. He will find it to be an
amount in advance of anything that he pro
badly has imagined; an amount, which, if
expended in the purchase of fertilizers, would
be sufficient to keep up considerable por-
ton of his farm to the highest state of fertli-
ty-an amount sufficient to keep him sup
piled with a full assortment of agricultural
implements, of the latest and most improved
varieties-an amount sufficient to educate a
small family and furnish good library-an
amount sufficient to build and furnish a good
house. More, or less, according to the size
of farm and amount of fencing thereon.
And all this labor and expense is for
what? Why simply to keep the few scrubby
stock, which the farmer and his neighbors
happen to own, out of his crop. Few far
% m in this country keep as much stock k as
have is usually of an inferior kind. And
yet, what labor and expense do they impose
upon themselves to keep such stock out of
their crops! The very existence of such a
system shows want of thought, enterprise
and energy.