The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-05
farm aud Garden.
conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture
Fences.

We have received the following letter
with the accompanying estimates Of the
cost OF the worn fence, and deem it
we'll worthy of publication. The ques
ton of the cost of fences, and the besi
and most economical enclosures, is ONT
which concerns every farmer. Mr.. Ward
is expecting to publish pamphlet Oh
the fence question.
SENAToB1A, MISS, Sept. Goth, 81.
DR.. Thamas Pollard, Richmond, "a:
Dear Sir,-As subscriber to the Cen
trail Presbyterian 1 read your articles,
as Commissioner of Agriculture, will
great interest. The last article Oh
SBarbed Wire Fences" being followed
by request from you for some farmer
to send an estimate of the cost of a rail
fence, 1 herewith enclose my estimate
on the "old worm fence" The estimate
4 is based on prices that rule in this sec
ton as to labor and timber, and may not
apply to your State. am the patentee
of what is known as Wards Permanent
Rail Fence, Wards Skeleton Pasture
Fence, and Wards Water Fence-all
made of rails, and intended to supersede
the old worm. The saving in original
construction is 100 per cent, in repairs
$50 per cent. l have made the fence
question a study for eight years, have
obtained four different letters patent on
rail fences. think from the attention
have given the subject, the extent OF
my observation as farmer, since boy
hood, and the experience of gray-haired
far or daH 70 L. T
tolerably correct ideas in regard to the
matter.
[ have sold several Southern States,
and some Western, but have reserved
the Virginias, hoping to make tour
through these States and visit some OF
the places which were made familiar to
me during the war. I have not can
,vassed in the interest of my inventions
tor two or three years, having other
business that kept me at home. I fol-
lowed General Lee in Virginia, and fell
IN love with the country and its people,
and would like to visit the old State
amid peaceful scenes.
Yours, &C., ROBERT F. WARr
ing.
The cost of worm fence varies accord
ing to the supply of timber and its con.
venlence to the line of fence the esti-
mated cost of fencing one farm would
not perhaps apply to any other farm in
the vicinity. Some farmers will claim
that timber is no object to them, while
with others the timber question is a Sc
rious one. We dislike to hear persons
speak OF timber as worthless, or of no
consideration, under any circumstance ::
1t argues plainly that the person who so
regards it has his thoughts fixed entirely
on the present, or on himself, and not
on the future or the welfare of those
who may own the soil after him. But
we have spoken on this subject heretofore
We will place the value of the timber in
one hundred fence rails at one dollar. or
one cent apiece, which is certainly a
moderate valuation, for they can be sold
for three dollars hundred to burn bricks
with, and are worth two dollars hun
dred to any person who buys fire wood
or one dollar per hundred to any farmer
TOR fuel. The price for splitting rails is
also one dollar per hundred and haul
ing and placing them on the worm fence
cost fifty cents per hundred; this makes
rails In worm fence cost two and half
dollars per hundred, without estimating
the use of team and wagon. The number
OF panels contained in mile of worm
fence varies from about seven hundred
and fifty-four to eight hundred and
eighty, according to the crook given ii
which Is generally regulated by the sup
ply of rail timber, its convenience to the
grounds, the evenness or undulation of
the earth's surface, the state of the fnan-
ces on the farm where the fence is to be
located and other matters. A good farm.
er is noted for his good fences; and
the longer and steadier he wishes his
worm fence to stand the more crook he
gives it. In making this bill of costs
we will split the difference, and say that
a mile of worm fence contains eight hun
dred and seventeen panels. The mum.
Der of rails to the panel varies from eight
to nine to fourteen, being regulated by
the same influences which regulate the
number of panels in a mile. In this es-
Innate we will place the number of rails
per panel at thirteen-eleven rails high
two stakes and one rider to each panel
nothing short of this makes q steady snb
stantial fence.
RECAPITULAT1oS.
Number Of panels per mile in worm
fence ala
Oh