Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-08-09
Agrifnltnral department.
COST OF FENCES.

George M. Whitaker in his lecture
on Neglected Trifes," 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, inclu-
ding 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 mill
lion dollars annually for the maintenance
of fences, and farms are offered in mar
ket for less money than would be re-
CURED in building the fences which
surround them. With such facts in
view, says the Neao England Farmer,
people in many places are beginning to
see that fences are too costly, as we'll as
frequently unnecessary, while their re-
moval often improves the appearance Of
the town. One of the pleasantest fea-
lures of the landscape at the Massachu-
setts Agricultural College, is the entire
absence of roadside fences against culti-
waited fields and moving lands. and so
we'll does the idea of dispensing with
fences take hold Of the farmers in the
immediate vicinity of the College, that
many Of them are following the example
set by the early founders of that insti-
tuition, and are laying their own grounds
open to the highway, thus adding much
to the beauty of the landscape. besides
saving great bill of expense to them
selves. One of the first things which
the rich feel is necessary for their ceun-
try homes is, that the view should extend
over the landscape without the ugly
corruption of fence, This natural
feeling is shared also by those who are
not rich, but, like many other things
which exist simply from the prejudiees
Of habit, it has heretofore been consid-
cred impossible to realize. To-day,
however, by the slow process Of genera
tions, civilized men have become so i'm
bued with love of order and law, that
the fence should disappear from the
landscape as the drawbridge and moat
have disappeared from the modern man
| sion.
Abiding to the little patches of green
frequently found at the centres of our
country towns and designated as the
common" he says: "But what is moro
incongruous than to see a small green
surrounded by glazing white belt Of
timber solid enough for a ratification,
the most snowy feature in the prospect
when it should have been the least? II
shows as poor taste as it would be to
attach an elephant to trotting sulky.
L 90 not believe the Almighty ever Gre
ated the delicate tints of the grass e
play second fiddle to great coarse fence
Green roadsides, neat flower gardens
we'll kept shrubbery and shade trees ar,
infinitely preferable, in the way Of vii
lage decorations to pine pickets. Blu
if fences must be maintained along tn
village street, let them be- built to cor
respond with the surroundings A 70,
of rough boards in front Of nice cot
cottage, line of posts IN all degrees Q
rectitude, gate that refuses to fit tn
place intended for it. a picket or tw
counted out, tAe paint worn off, ar
among the kbtie things that give tn
stranger a feeling that there is som,
; thing that Is repulsive about the villae
l he Is, visiting" While we hold on
eur fence system let us keep those whic
b We have in good repair, and tidy.
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