The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-03

In considering the important question
OF fences, farmers aud agricultural
writers are often led 10 take bat super
I fetal view Of IT, Fences we must have.
II is useless 10 say that in this or that
township the inhabitants have voted to
abolish all fences that in Nineland,
Wheatland, or Cornyille there is not 4
fence 10 be seen, aud SO much money
is saved 10 the public This may da in
places where one never sees drove of
seep or cattle ON the highways but in
localities where, during the season,
farmer sees dozen droyes pass his farm
daily, fences must be a necessity. His
fields must be protected from the road,
ut least. Inside fences, we admit, may
be abolished tomorrow, II the will IA
ready 10 do IT, Then, of what must our
outside fences be made Necessity
calls for something cheap This includes
all good qualities. To be cheap, il must
be not necessarily of the smallest orig
inal cost but il must be moderate in
cost, easily erected, permanent and
durable in quality. Hedges are gen.
orally too costly for the ordinary farmer,
inasmuch ms they must be protected for
term Of years by substantial fence,
and occupy belt of land which might
produce crops and even with the best
Of care they become Intellectual in time
Wire fences have the objection that
they are dangerous 10 cattle unused to
them, and il made SO close and high as
TO be really useful, are costly. Then we
come 10 wooden fences. And here We
believe we must stay But We are met
with the objection, "Wheru in the tim
bcr 10 be obtained p This is readily
removed The timber must be grown.
In Europe, where timber is scarce, aud
has been for centuries grown for daily
use, the fences are, IN great measure,
of wood. Hedges are of course very
common, but the thorn OF which they
are formed will not stand our climate
Sufficiently well to become permanent,
useful fence. And even there the thorn
hedges is kept up only by constant at-
tention and labor, which would rarely
be given on an American farm ON ac-
count Of the expense. We know OF no
cheaper or more substantial fence than
one Of posts and rails. Three rails are
sufficient 10 turn sheep or cattle, aud
any animal that goes over such IA fence
should become material for the butcher
Much land may be found anywhere that
viii bring in better revenue planted
IN fence timber than In any other man
neF. Poor pastures or wet aud rocky
lots might be planted with such quick
growing timbers as chestnuts, bass.
woods. Norway spruce. or European
larch. Selections from such timber or
other species may be made which will
suit any soil, whether wet or dry, stony
or smooth. A few years only will elapse
before a valuable crop may be gathered,
and We are certain that tive acres NJ
planted and well attended will keep in
repair continually the outside fences OF
two hundred acres. A post-and-rail
fence viii occupy but a small strip Of
land. The pillow may be run within q
foot of the post. hedge, Of the pres.
ent ineonvenient rail fence. with its
spreading stakes, occupies q large
breadth OF land totally lost 30 cultivation !
The proceeds Of such land. now lost, !
would in a few years repay the cost Of
the fence, and would certainly continue
30 keep ID in repair Where there are
so many points 90 be considered as in /
this question Of feacing. il is well 10 give /
them all hearing before deciding on |
any settled course. But il Is evident /
that the time for consideration with /
many Of US is passing, and We arc. even /
now casting about for materials where |
with 10 replace our dilapidated fences.
4 Psgins Virrgig FtFrHlrr