The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-02-19


fences around their premises TO keeI
cut marauders, and for the protection
OF their crops from depredations OF tn,
stock Of those who are too shiftless anC
mean to provide pasture for their owl
stock, but take every opportunity tc
spunge all they can from their neigh
bors. With the poo. who have nc
land OF their own we can have patience
but the greatest trouble generally
comes from the neighbor who has q
farm OF his own, bat whose impecuni.
BUSINESS aud indifference TO his neigh.
bors right and interest, tempt him to
turn his sheep, cattle and hUgs into the
highway, thereby becoming pest 10
the community--makIn9 every ones
(but their owners) gateway and shade
trees a resting place to brush flies and
become a general nuisance, ready 10
slip into any gap or gateway that may
be open and destroy the crops. Their
owners when appealed to and remon-
strated with, will with impudence tell
you ID FIX up your fences, that the cat
tie are not 10 blame. SO much being
true, under such q state OF things me-
cessity seems To compel us to surround
our farmes with good fences.
But, to take different view, adapting
ourselves 10 our own immediate COM
munity and surroundings. it is evident
to the practical observer that the good
farm is the one that is we'll fenced;
that the poor land we'll fenced is on the
right way to become profitable TO its
owner; that good land with poor fences
is doubtful in it's returns. We assume
from these facts and observations that,
in an agricultural community like ours,
good farm fences are "a necessity to the
successful prosecution Of farming in
terests. Taking this view the next
most important question is, what kind
OF fence shall we build How much
will il cost, aud its durability These
considerations are all important and
conclusions reached under diff
ferent circumstances. Whilst we would
advise the farmer who has plenty Of
loose stone lying around on has farm to
lay them up into n good wall that will
endure for generations, costing from
one 10 two dollars per rod, instead OF
piling them up IN unsightly heaps
about his fields, or throwing them into
AOuCt COAntAb W DtIOAuC
yermin and q good place for brush and
TO grow, yet, the farmer
who has no stone on his farm cannot
afford to build stone walls, but must
look for other material, of which tim ber
or lumber in some form is most preya-
lent in use. The old fashioned rail
fence with perpendicular stakes fasten-
ed with caps or wire, when good oak
rails can tie had costing not to
exceed $50 per thousand, seems TO be
the cheapest and most durable Of fence
built OF wood. Next we have posts and
boards, variable in cost; expensive If
built 10 answer good purpose, or cheap
If you do not care for durability or USE
The ordinary board fence built
with four 10 six inches strips is too
scant. would recommend ten inch
board at the bottom with three six inch
strips and four inch cap on the top,
makes q well proportioned fence Of good
heighth and substantial For durab hty,
either in rails or posts, much depends
on the quality Of the timber, the kind OF
soil II grew upon, time Of year II was
cut, and how handled. Deadened tim
Der, Of any kind, will make very poor
posts or rails, and will last but short
time. A mistaken idea with some is,
that posts Will last longer set in the
ground for being seasoned before use,
but the fac. is they will not last near as
long. have had good white oak posts
rot of in three years after they were set,
that had been stuck up and seasoned
two or three summers Ny own expe-
rience is that timber for rails or posts,
should be cut, il live timber, in the fall
or winter, and either sawed or split and
used the following spring or summer
In building farm fences we can fiji out
the experience OF a lifetime and yet see
chances for improvement; on like an
aged uncle Of Revolutionary honors,
down in old Connecticut, who, at the
age Of seventy, visited n neighbor to get
some locust timber for gate posts, say
ing that he had heard II would last
hundred years and wanted to try il TO
see. What was done by many of US, or
was most expedient in clearing up new
farms cannot be done now, neither would
it be best in keeping up the old.
What man Of us that was brought up
on the farm does not recollect the sticks
that were split and carefully laid away
that the hired man and boy might rest
on rainy days turning the
big augur to make bar posts and then
going out after the rain was over to dig
the holes and set them, and the old bars
that the boys used 10 ting and sweat over
to let down and put mp whom they drove
the cows 10 and from the pasture. One,
in my own youthful experience, which
was oftener let down than put mp, 80 i'm
pressed itself upon me that shall never
forget just how it looked. The man or
boy that invented the slide gate was q
benefactor 10 his race. And 80 in con-
sidering this subject, one Of the most
common and formal Of our farm duties
there is improvement; that man, endow-
ed with almost supernatural power 10
convert materials OF the universe 10 his
own use and purpose, making necessity
the mother Of invention, will use science
in agriculture even 10 the building OF
our fences. And wo think the time is
not far distant when iron Will be the
chief material used; and we are told that
fence built with iron posts and wire Is
extensively used on our western prairies.
In conclusion we must admit In build
ing farm fences we are confronted with
the idea OF no fence;-thst with show OF
reason its advocates will demonstrate TO
us its expense and usefulness. Yet how
ever plausible their theories may be, like
many others the aericulturists have 10
meet, practical experience is the sure
test more than In any other business fol-
lowed by mankind. However de-
sirable il might be to get along without
fences, what farmer does not feel the
greatest relief OF care and work when
spring comes so that he can tnrn his
nocks and cattle out to roam OF their
own free viii in his fields and pastures?
In fact the most indifferent observer
cannot bat notice that it is the good and
thrifty farmer who has his farm well
fenced and rests himself in more solid
contentment and security, and "a be
breathes the pure air Of heaven, looking
upon his well fenced fields, tho waving
grain, his focks and herds, exclaims in
his eIhuberance, things Of beauty are
joys forever"
Geo. W. Underwood said that his
experience was in favor Of a we'll seas
oned post. and advocated the plan OF
sharpening the posts at the top end
and setting them top downward. lie
would set them top downward to conn.
teract the natural tendency 10 draw va
ter MP the ,reo (or posD by way Of cap
ilary attraction
Col. Holloway said be had used very
iltla beeida The rail fenca himeeif -