The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-21
farm aud Garden.
Conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD State
Commissioner of Agriculture.
Barbed Wire Fences.
audi Alteran, -Partena.

advantages of barbed wire fences opposed
to the views of the author of communi-
cation on this subject published in our
last. No doubt there are two sides to
the question. These fences, no doubt,
will be much used where timber is scarce,
and near cities. They are the best pro-
lection of any other fence against stock
and rogues, and cannot be removed and
burned as fences frequently are near the
cities. Then they are durable, take up
little land, and permit the ground they
occupy to be easily kept clear of briars
and bushes. There are other advantages
enumerated in the article published last
week. That they are attended with some
danger to stock there can be no question,
particularly where large herds are kept,
and to stock of neighbors which may at
tempt to depredate, and which are not
accustomed to these fences. Where tim
Der Is plentiful no doubt the rail fence
will continue to be used. The writer of
the following seems to have had good
opportunity of Judging OF these fences
but we think he goes too far in chasing
them with Northern humbugs. And if
the wire he noticed as being broken down
In Texas had been bar6ed, he would
scarcely have found it broken down. 1t
is true that large herds pressing one an
other might break through them at one
or more points
In your August number there is an
interesting article on this subject, by
Inquirer, which is merely suggestive
for the writer has evidently had no ex-
perience with barbed-wire fences. 1
have for in passing over large area of
Texas l often came upon extensive strings
OF wire fences, always down, literally
torn to pieces. On inquiring the cause
of their broken condition, the reply in
varlably was, a large herd of cattle was
passing, they went right through it, and
left the fence as you see it now True,
the wire was not barbed; it is well it was
not, for in that case many of the cattle
would have been skinned alive; as it
was, only some of them were entangled
and thrown down, would struggle till ex-
tricated and then run to Join the herd.
There is a lot in Wytheville fenced
with barbed wire, and several accidents
have occurred; friend of mine had a.
horse badly injured, the horses head.
neck, and shoulders were first caught;
IN tearing himself away he left sundry
pieces of his hide; in turning, his rump
caught the barbs; he kicked and the
barbs caught his legs, and when released
by the aid OF men the horse was pretty
well fayed alive.
drance to ingress and egress. and attempt
to 60 through and the barbs injure them
think that if two planks were nailed
to the posts the whole length of the
fence, 1t might do for cattle, but for
sheep, not at all; every sheep would be
caught in the wool by the barbs.
L have thought much of the barbed-
wire fence, and have concluded that the
fence made of that material can only be
OF practical utility by digging two bitches
on parallel lines about five feet apart.
throw the dirt between them to form
ridge with the apex in the centre. set
the posts on this ridge, or better still,
plant young locust tree for the posts
and fasten the wires to them; they will
be permanent at least. The bitches on
either side will check any animal that
may be running, and two planks, as sug-
gested, will make the fence secure, at
least for cattle and horses, but vet not
tor sheep and hogs; the sheep will reach
their heads through and be caught and
the hogs will creep under the wire.
This is not the time at least for the
South to experiment in wire fences. In
tact, l cannot see their utility: the
tbarbed-wire fence may keep my neigh
boris stock out of my field at the loss of
my neighbour by the injury of his cattle,
winch would not evince much love to nv
neighbor. My own stock might want to
roam from one field to another and be
seriously injured in the effort. If I had
saW-mill, or there was one close by I
would have chestnut posts sawed six
inches, square and seven feet. long, then
OF each one Of those 1 would make two
posts-six inches by four at the ground
end and six inches by two at the upper
end-set them in the ground and at the
same time plant a locust in the same
hole, and then, to have a permanent
fence, nail on chestnut plank every
twenty and thirty years for all time.
There are many humbugs sent out to
5he South, which l call northern hum
md