The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-01-22
for the farmer.
A BRIEF DEFENSE OF THE "RAIL
FENCR.o

HAMILTON o., December 50.
To the Editor Of the Cincinnati Heekly Times;
Storned against and rallied at as the old worm
fence has been from every quarter, yer I'D Ihe
wooded parts of our country it is the main fence
still, and viii be until we are forced to submit 10
the wastefnl ditch, the thorny hedges, or the ex-
penslve stone wall-for the pine forests, Ike our
rail timber, will not prove inexhaustible.
The worm fence is easily and benenclaiy
moved, and may be opened at any point, WhiIe
the extra amount of land occupied may be prom
tally kept in grass and its peculiar shape makes
It SO that horse may be driven out past 'no
line in blowing corn.
As many miles Of this kind of fence will be re,
b"ilt before the working season comes on, anu
as unskillful help is positive disadvantage ~
making such fence, we give the following hin's
that should be generally observed: -,
A short sled and chain is best for moving otd
rails, as the soundest often broken ny neinS
thrown from wagon. Clear the grohnd OIL
grubs and other objects that obstruct the llne
and always proceed up hill if possible, as the II
ders and the whole fence are kept more Level IN
this way. There are three modes OF running ny
stakes: the double row; the single row OF stakes
with affect measuring stick in the hands OF the
operator; and the single row of stakes, Win a
sharp, neat stake in the hands OF the operator,
having cross-arm 2t feet in length, nailed and
braced on il, one foot above its lower point. Inc
latter mode is by far the more SIMPLE anu pracH-
cable Of the three, as the cross arm measuring
I
way of laying the corner. 49,
fat stone placed under one end of split
walnut cord-woOd stick will do very well for q
foundation, and is really worth more than rail,
for it keeps the fence mp from the ground, while
| the spaces under may be stopped by the rotten
pieces that are not good for firewOod.
1t may be proper here to remark that the "oid
! folks" always try TO lay a foundation during the
new of the moon, Oh the principle that board
laid on the grass at this time will stay on top,
whilst a board placed in the same position du-
| ring the old of the moon will sink out Of sight,
and the grass will grow over it.
But to proceed. The thickest end of a rail Is
always placed behind, except in the case of the
bottom rail, where heavy, sound rail, having
one small end, is preferred, not to leave an
entrance for small pigs when the second rail is
placed on it. Placing the large ends behind re-
moves the wide spaces one step higher. AnOth-
er exception to this rule sometimes in the
case of the sixth rail, when the rail is turned to
snit the levelng up of the fence, or to make the
stakes fit better at the top of the corner. Now
| for the second and third rails choose the small
lest and straightest, saving the poorest for the
the fourth and fifth, and the crookedest for the
first rider, which is always placed on the stakes
behind and under the stakes in front.
The sixth rail should be an No. /, of fair size
and full length, and the top rider should be the
strongest and heaviest in the whole lot
| Set the stakes as deeply as possible, being care
full TO dig the holes five six inches to the pro-
per side of opposite line from the corner, thus
making them brace toward each other at the
top, or where they cross. This is the most COM
mon neglect of fence-bnilders. By having the
stakes laid up against the middle of the rails,
| they will be in full view, and thus suitable
hole may be dug as some may be very large or
very crooked.
We close by advising farmers to put their fen
ces in good repair before the busy season comes
on, so that they will not have to leave the rea-
per or the pillow standing idle while they race
after their neighbors cattle that are rcveling in
their richest grain fields
| c. s. HUNTER.