Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-11-09
Eepces and Fence Law.

But he ga1ly smiled, and only repneQ,
.s .s.The devil now wouldn't kiss you.n +
Fences and Fence Law.
For several years past the question
of fences has been often discussed by
the agricultural press, without having
resulted in any practical move, one
way or the other. The advocates Of
a "no fence law" have alwayssmet a
stumbling block in the inexpediency
of making such a law operative
throughout the State. Sometime since
We had an opportunity to see the
mo fence" law Impractical operation
in several counties of Virginia, and
were astonished at the unanimity oi
feeling of the people in hoping that
shis law might never be repealed. In
other sections it seems that it does
not work 80 we'll, where numbers OF
small land owners depend upon pas
turing COWS upon the highways and
waste lands We confess that this
knotty problem will be difficult to
solve in manner satisfactory to all
the farming community; but for our
selves, waiving all the points brorght
by intelligent farmers of Virginia
against establishing such law, we
would merely consider the great in
huence the abolition of fences in GER
tain sections of our State would have
upon improving our system of agri-
culture. The most fertile and rich
est farming districts of Europe have
no fences. Still more cattle is kept
there than in the same area Of tue
best agricultural sections of the Uni
ted States. There, necessity never
existed to enclose ones land against
the 'depredatio 10 of his neighbor's $
stock. There, each person is respon-
sible for damages caused by his cat
tie; and if law of trespass exists
here against man, it seems that one
against beasts should certainly be in
force. With no fences, cattle could
receive more attention and become
more profitable to our farmers. Oh
necessity cattle would have to be fed
upon crops grown for that purpose.
The soiling system would naturally
be the result of this, and We may
safely say that where this system is
practiced, lands are broughtto state
of fertility unknown elsewhere. With
soiling cattle vast amounts of stable
manure are produced, and as atten.
ton is paid to this requisite of good
farming, so will success and profit be
secured.
Herewith we give the outlines o.
the Virginia fence law, and would ask
its careful perusal by our Southel I
agriculturists:
AN ACT, relating to Fences and fo,
the Protection of Crops. Passed
January 26th, 1866.
/. Be it enacted 5y the Genera
Assembly. Ihatt in any county of thi'
Commonwealth, which shall adopt
the provisions Of this Act, in the
manner hereinafter specified, the
boundary lines of each lot or trac
of land in said county shall be anc
.thsX,,are hereby constituted a Lawful
2.SIt shall not be lawful for the
owner or manager Of any horse, mule
swine, sheep, goat, or neat cattle O
any description. to permit the said
animals to run at large beyond the
limits of their own lands.
8. If any of the animals enumera'
ted in the foregoing section shall
hereafter be found going at large, Oh
upon the lands of any person Other
than the owner, the owner or manag
er of said animals shall be liable fol
all damages done by the said animali
to the owner of the crops or land:
upon which they may trespass, wheth
er the said animals wander from the
premises of their ownersin the county
in which the trespass was committed
or from another county.
4. In case of trespass as aforesaid
the aggrieved party may make com
plant to o Justice of the county in
which the trespass was committed
VINO shall issue his warrant im1nedi.
ately, returnable within FIVE days
from the date thereof; and at the
time and place named i'll said war
rant, the case will be tried and the
amount of damage sustained by the
complainant and Judgment gwen Iol
the same, with legal costs. as III cast
OF other warrants. And upon 8 repe-
tition Of the ofense, and for every
succeeding one, Judgment shall he
given for double the amount of dam
ages sustained by the complainant
Provided, That when The udsmtlt
OF the Justice shall be for SUM not
exceeding fifty dollars, the defendant,
upon appeal to the County Court,
shall be entitled to demand Il trial by
Juy III snid Court: a:,d the Judgment
OF the said Court upon the appeal,
shall! he according 30 Sai'i Verdi. y.
aside acror,iln. 10 the rules 1i i;,a'.
y ile, upon the lre<is!s<lng anl'n..js
for lie payment Of The damages. wli:.
co,'s thu. ;,Sccrialned. bali 5:!;..,.
iron the dale of the warrant, au
shall superse,le all other liens, excei t
w;lcn tins Commonwealth or the Cnl-
ted States have Il previous claim, loi
public dues, upon said animals
5. The County Court OF any conn-
ty in this Commonwealth, after due
summons to the Justices thereof 10
attend at some regular Court Of said
county for the purpose majority
of the acting Justices being present,
and a majority of those present con-
nllrrinn-mav danlara the rrnuiaions