The union Democrat., 1870-02-12
" More about Fences"

EDITOR UNION DEMOCRAT While the sub
jcct of fences and stock is agtating the minds of
the farmers, allow me through your columns
to offer a few remarks for our mutual benefit,
trusting they will be received in the same
kind spirit which prompts them. In a for
mer article, ga Farmers opinion" Farmer
quo res several old maxims, that are very we'll
in some particular eases; but are not the cur
renc,r to pay laborer or a lumber bill with,
and to those who say, roll up your sleeves
aud fence your ranch, &c. Iquote the words
of the reatest Siver the world eyer saw,
"physicl m heal thyself," there is an infinite
while there is no Farmer but would look with
just pride pon his commodious and substan-
tiai dwelin,-. his neat harm. outhouses and
good fences, Eli he should be left to suit his
own convenience in having them built. We
have had our sleeves rolled up-at least many
of us-for the lat fifteen years, and yet our
fences are not laNvfcl, or such as will keep out
breachy cattle. In my opinion all persons
should be restrained in some manner from al
lowing their hogs cattle from troubling
their neighbors. and / for one think the time
spent running after cattle. or standing in the
gaps watching them, We uld be better applied
in fencing them in. Already some of our
stock owners following the example of farm
e-s in some of the older eta tcs who have tried
tba ura1 SHo1 Il,
the result, that they would not again adopt
the plan of turning them cut to shirk for
themselves are fencing in tn cir stock, and
ask what benefit is there in the privilege of
turning your cattle into the r1ad, when per-
sous are licensed to drive the ir cattle to your
very door? minus standing IL the gaps, they
are mere likely to be under tie shade Of an
oak or at home. The shooting o. mems cat
tie is not more reprehensible (wn, n they will
not take care of them than the mean prac-
hcc OF driving them to your very doors; furth-
ermore, even training them to ste II their liv-
ing from neigh5ors. Lawful fences ard
peace and good will in the nei gb borhood
seems to be the great desideratum of farmer.
He will hardly see it in our time. if he de-
rends on good fences to bring it. Several
drawbacks exist. such as no titles to the land,
no established lines, and cattle and hogs run
ming at large. BY the way, these hog b--oils
are somewhat refreshing, l was in one of
them. and had a small band THAT got into a
neishbor's seldl all broiled away from me, l
stood it like martyr rather than get into
interminable lawsuit. Not so with havin; !,
your pet COW maugled; you only find yourself
in an am:a5le mood. Now in all can5or.
think good head of cabbage, good baked
apple, or mug of cider, just as essential to
good living as butter and milk. Pet cows
should be kept in a pasture to prevent them
from appropr;ating these articles of luxury to
themselves; but 20 conclude can accom-
plish nothing more by this scribbling than to
bring out some of the latent talent that lies
ensconced in some of these rural hooks, shall
have conferred great boon upon the farming
community, myself as well as many others
would like to hear and read good essay on
farming aud would be much benefited there
by. W. j. B.