The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-06
Points on Fence Making.

THERE seems to be little judgment
used by many farmers in building
fences. There are several points to
be kept in view in fence making, as ap-
pearance, durability, economy and
thorough protection. The first of these
is not of special Importance, except
where the fence occupies a position on
the road or front of the farm, and there
l would take extra pains in finishing
my fence neatly. There are several
ways in which time and money can be
saved in building board fences, and it
can be made at the same time more
durable than when built in the ordinary
way. The first place that fence
board gives out, is at the end where it
is nailed on the post, and as posts often
have a narrow face, where boards are
nailed on in the usual way, it is often
necessary to nail very near the end,
which increases the danger of splitting,
and as every board must be cut and it
ted, it makes double work in building
the fence. l have for some years adopt
ed the following plan of making board
fences:
set good substantial locust posts
eight inches nearer to each other than
the length of the boards, so as to al
low lap of four inches at each end,
and then nail on the boards so that one
end will be one side and the opposite
end the other. To make this perfect
ly plain, suppose you are building a
line of fence running east and west;
when your posts are set you begin at
the west end to nail on the boards; the
first panel you nail the west end of
the board to the south side of the post,
and the other end to the north side, and
so on till you are done. Then 60 back
and with narrow spade, or q long
mattock, dig small hole foot deep
in the center of each panel, and drive
straight stake three inches in diam
eter. The advantage of this fence is
that it is cheaper and stronger than
a board fence built in the ordinary
way. We save, first, the digging
of half the post holes; second. we
can buy three stakes for the middle Of
the panels for the price of one post ;
and third, where there is no saving
and fitting, three panels can be nailed
on in the time one would take in the
old way. By setting the posts and
mailing the boards on before driving
the center stakes, this fence can be
made quite straight, and to present a
good appearance. Another question
Of some Importance in making board
fences, is the number of boards. ]
have long since adopted the four-board
plan, as it saves 20 per cent. of the
lumber, and if properly made makes q
fence that will turn any stockholm q
sucking pig to mule-just as well as
q five-board fence. Further than this
will say that in many locations a
three-board fence for everything
except young pigs, can be so made
as to turn stock perfectly. The
trouble with most board fences
is that tho first board is placed
too near the ground. On all level
land the first board should be one foot
from the ground. Then pillow furrow
three feet from the fence each side,
and with shovels throw the soil up Sc
as to make q regular slope from the
bottom of the furr0w to within an inch
or two of the bottom of the board.
The advantage of this is that when
horses or cattle approach the fence, il
brings them in such shape that they
cannot easily jump, for, when back or
the level land they are too far from the
fence, and when near it their hind feet
are some sixteen inches lower thar
their front feet. For . thxee-board
fence Of this kind I would Heks thu