The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-09-11
COST OF FENCES.

George NJ. Whitaker, in his lecture
on Neglected Trifles," makes the fol-
lowing statement of facts concerning
fences: In New Hampshire the original
cost of the fences is equal to twice the
value of all the stock in the State, in
Guiding horses, and the annual tax upon
the farms for repairs of fences would
nearly wipe out all the State tax in one
year.
The Connecticut farmers pay one
million dollars annually for the maintc-
nance of fences, and farms are offered
in market for less money than would be
required in building the fences which
surround and divide them. With such
facts in view, people in many places are
beginning TO see that fences are too
costly, lis well is frequently unncccsSa-
~, while their removal often improves
the appearance of the town. One of
the pleaS1nteSt features of the landscape
at the Massachusetts Agricultural Col
lcgc is the entire absence OF roadside
fences against cultivated fields and
moving lands, and SO we'll does the idea
of dispensing with fences take hold of
the farmers i'll the immediate vicinity OF
the College. that many OF them are fol-
lowing the example set by the early
founders of that institution, and are
laying their own grounds open To the
highway, thus adding much to the bcau-
~ OF the landscape, besides saving 4
great bill of expense To themselves. -
(lna nF tho Shin. ,,.f,s,i, FL. =. 4,
feel is necessary for their country homes
is, that the view should extend over the
landscape without the ugly interruption
of fence. This natural feeling is
shared also by those who are not rich.
but, like many other things which exist
simply from the prcjudiccs of habit. it
has heretofore been considered impoS,i-
bic to realize. To-day, however. by
the slow process Of generations, civil
lied men have become so imbuud with
love OF order and law, that the fence
should disappear from the landscape As
the dTaw-bridge and moa, have disap-
pcarcd from the modern mansion.
Abiding to the little patches of green
frequently seen i; the centcrs OF our
country towns and designated rs the
common, hcsay But what is more
incongruous than TO see small green
surrounded by glaring white belt OF
timber solid enough for 4 fertilization.
the most SNOWY feature in the pro>pcc;
when it should have been the least 1t
shows rs poor taste rs il would bc TO At
tach an elephant to 4 irotting sulky.
do not believe the Almighty ever Crca-
ted the delicate ,ints OF the grass to
play second fiddle to great coarse
fence. Green roadsides, neat flower
gardens. wcll-kcpt shrubbery and shade
trees are infinitely preferable, in the
way ofvillagc decoration to pine pickctS.
But il fences must be maintained along
the village street, let them be built to
correspond with the surroundings. y
row Of rough boards in front OF a nice
cottage, line OF posts in all degrees OF
rcctitude, 4 gate that refuses TO fit the
place intended for it, 4 picket or two
counted out. the paint worn oil, are
among the little things that give the
stranger feeling that there is 4 some
thing that is repulsve about the village
he is visiting" While We hold on To
our fence system let us keep those which
We have in good repair and tidy.-.NtD
ERshrAd Farmer.