Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-01-07

surprising that great attention is
being turned 10 this material as
substitute for wood---on account of
its durability, its strength, its
cheapness, and its beauty even.
Recent inventions have developed
variety OF forms of cheap but effec-
tive steel fences. Plain iron wire
has long been used Or tried. but it
has proved quite unsatisfactory, land
almost useless. Cattle and other
animals run against it, OF through
it, or break it down.
In 1860 an Iowa Blacksmith at
tempted to render wire fence more
effective by attaching kind of
barbs or points along it, at frequent
intervals. lie bent common
horseshoe nail once around the
wire closely, leaving the two ends
projecting as barbs on each side.
as the nails worked loose by the
expansion and contraction of heat
and cold, he tried to fasten them by
winding a small wire spirally around
the large main wire to bind the nails
in place, From this beginning has
sprung up great variety Of forms
Of single, double, triple, and quad
ripple barbs, on single and double
wires, straight and twisted. The
American Agriculturist for Deem
Der gives engravings and dcscrip-
tons showing the exact form and
size and mode of no less than TWEEN
ty-one different forms of barbed
wire and barbed strips for fencing,
and the Editor speaks of half a doz-
en- still different forms that he has
seen, but he has not yet had sam
pies Of for sketches, which will be
| illustrated hereafter.
| A strong objection to many forms
of these barbcd fences is their La
bility to pierce, tear, and inJurc an
imals, yet over 100000 miles Of
such fencing have been recently
erected. However well adapted for
the large western fields, they are
too barb-arous Tor use, at least
around small lots, or where animals
are very valuable, or for the sides OF
Travelled highways, and especially
ior line fences around village lots,
The Editor Of The American Agri-
culturist has been studying up the sub
iect during the past season, at the
" est as well as East, and says that
among the forms Of barbed fence now
in use, there are some which, by a
little modification which lie has sug-
gested TO the manufacturers, in the
form and length OF the barbs, may be
adopted every where, even in villages
for enclosing small plots, as well as on
all farms, Also, that such fences
made of steel are far cheaper than
wood that they are stronger; that
they are almost imperishable, and that
they are even ornamental. a series
OF illustrated articles will give the
merits and dement's of the different
forms OF barbed steel fencing, and the
new varieties adapted to all sircum-
stances. Iron or Steel posts will also
be described, and a call is made upon
inventors to devise new form OF Iron
Post that shall supersede wood, both
in cheapness and durability. y for
tune is in store for the inventor Of
such post. Every one at all interes'
ted in fencing should read the articles
on the subject to be given in the
American AgrIculturlst, or at least
get and red the interesting illustrated
fencing articles given in the December
number. The journal is issued by
Orange Judd Company. 245 Broad
way New York, at $50 a year.
Single number, pest paid, Is cents. a
postpaid specimen copy tor two 3
cent stamps.