Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-19
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
TIE FENCE QUESTION.
K1Ne's MOUNTAIN, N. c., July is, i

L. M. GR1sT-Dear Sir II am more in:
terested in the proposed change in the fence
law than any question that has been before
the public for long time. I am soide a,cake.
hear that some of the leading citizens Of
York are not in favor of the change, and l
am going to publish-by your permission-a
few papers that will be irresistible; papers
from men who know how the law works in
Meoklenburg county, NC. / herewith pre-
sent letter from Rev. A. Ransom, D. d.,
widely known, and practical farmer as we'll
as leading churchman. E. E. BoYcE.
HuNrERsv1LLE, N. c., July 9, 1877.
REV. E. E. BoYcE-Dear Brother The
same mail which brought your postal, brought
like request from B. F. Crayton, Esq, Of
Anderson, C. H., S. G. I do not know that l
can do any better than to repeat what l have
written to him: 2i''' " e.
Dear Sir Your request for my "observa-
tions and experience in the matter Of fencing
up the stock" has been duly received. Feel.
ing deep interest in the welfare of South
Carolina-my native State-I hasten to reply.
This is the fifth year that have had an op'
portunity to observe the working of the sys.
tenn, and the third that have been experien.
cling its benefits. These are, l am fully per-
suaded, as follows:
l. 1t saves heavy expense.
2. 1t brings valuable land into cultivation
3. Itimproves land and enhances its com.
mercial value.
4. 1t is favorable to renters.
s. It enables men to retain small, untim'
bered farms, and others to obtain farms fol-
the first time. .-....
6. 1t promotes the cultivation Of the grasses
7. 1t facilitates the improvement of stock.
Now, each of these points propose to il
lustrate. My interest in land comprises one
hundred and fifty acres. 1t had through it
long lane and short one. While we were
can vassing for the stock law, often said l
would rather have it than a present of Eve
hundred dollars. But, now, 60 up upon
that. Were it possible for no one to be affect
ed by it but myself, | would not return to the
old system for one thousand dollars. That
will sound extravagant to many, no doubt
But consider this: Besides my present pas.
ture and lot fencing, two thousand panels OF
new fence would be required. But would one
thousand dollars build that, and leave sum
whose interest would he sufficient to keep it in
repair from year to year7 reckon not.
Then, why should he willing to 60 back for
the consideration of one thousand dollars
Thus, in financial point of view, / regard
the change as being, practically, worth to me
and my children, at least seven dollars per
acre on our land.
In a few weeks, we will have finished neat,
substantial and convenient barn. forty feet
square. Began it year ago. Did most OF
the work ourselves and worked at it only
when farm work was not needed, or could not
be done. Fifty dollars will cover the whole
amount paid out for hired labor, nails and
the saving of plank. But under the old sys-
TEN, We could not have touched it at all ;
would have been kept in a continual strain to
renew our fences. And thus the new system
gives all farmers an opportunity to make ne.
cessary improvements, to drain land, to make
compost heaps, and to give their sons better
education.
2. On this point, I need only remark that
the best land in South Carolina is under the
fences. That is obvious to all. Now, we're
they removed, and the ground they occupy
cultivated in wheat and corn. would not the
yield bread all the peopl> If the State? All
through the old fields, too, are many rich
spots. Our people have hunted up all these,
and are letting the poorest Of the land they
had been cultivating liean rest. Besides, it is
a nice thing to be rid of the brush and briers
in the fence corners, and to drive out into the
clean road to turn.
8. Our most observing people are now con-
vinced that the injury they did their fields
by pasturing them, was far greater than all
the benefit to the stock. If turned in, for
only few days, to CLEAN the wheat, oats and
corn left, and not suffered to remain in when
the ground is wet, the damage would be
small. But not one in hundred would be
so careful. Forty.6ve years ago, 1 heard men
discussing the question: why is it that q
field, cleared now, will not produce more than
half of what the same kind of land, in an
adjoining field, produced when the country
was FIRST settled?" Some young men we're
disposed to deny the fact, and to hint that
the old men had forgotten, or had fallen into
the habit of telling "big stories" But Mr..
James Hamilton Lowry, of Laurens Dis
trict, who was then an old man and close
observer, explained it thus "When l was q
boy, the untrampled earth was, almost every
where, so loose that walking stick could be
easily run down twelve or eighteen inches.
Perhaps, for hundreds Of years, the growing
roots had been raising the ground, and as they
died and rotted they left it very open. 1t
held the most of the rain, and slowly supplied
the crops as needed. But by the time the
cattle men had destroyed all the pea.vines and
canes, the ground was trampled hard. and
ceased to produce, as I know it had done be.
FORE" I believe he was right. And if you
could see the crop of vegetation ON our old
fields which were formerly clipped bare by
everybody's hungry stock, you would think
so, too For vegetation growing and decay
ing-the top above and the roots beneath the
surfaee-is what enriches land. But when it
is cropped off, Just when starting to grow,
and the ground trampled hard, there is no
chance for the land to improve. Now, that
which hinders the recuperation of old fields
cannot be good for titled land. Let no hoof
20 on it, only to haul out manure, to till the
crop, and to gather it in; then, far less sub
soiling will be necessary to maintain the pri-
meval looseness of the soil.
4. While canvassing for the stock law,
some asserted that the enclosed district would
soon be without laborers that renters would
have no place for their stock and would move
out. But some of us believed that the thing
would work just the other way. With US,
and suppose with you, renters had to repair
fences to protect their crops. But they soon
saw that it was much easier to move old rails
and make a pasture, than to repair fences
around all the fields. Nobody has ever