The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-01-25
Fence Posts, Stakes, &c.
on of The Florida AgriculturiSt::


Editor of The Florida AgriculturiSt:
AS long as the law requires that
fences should be kept up to exclude
stock, especially that real pest, the
half wild hog OF Florida, it is mani>
testify to our interest to endeavor to
find out the best and least expensive
mode of accomplishing the desired
object.
The new settler, especially if his
means are limited, and sawed lumber
not easily obtained, must use the
common rail fence, which in the long
run proves TO be expensive and I'M
satisfactory, as it rots down IN few
years, requires constant repairs, is
liable TO be blown down by every
severe wind storm, exposing his fruit
trees or crop to the depreciation OF
every passing animal, and even when
p built in accordance with law, will
not keep out hogs, as they often
climb over it. In many sections this
kind of fence will be used, because
the settler can do tie work Of cutting
the timber and splitting the rails
without money expenditure. Picket
and plank fence are both ope2 to the
the objection, that posts must be
used, which, in few years, rot off at
the ground and require to be built
anew; therefore there is but little
enoice in point Of economy between
these three kinds of fences.
| have received several responses
to my queries upon the subject OF
fence posts published in your paper
last year. The substitutes Tor wooden
posts are too expensive for the far
mer costing from forly-five to seven
ty FIVE cents for each post. The ques-
ton still remains an open one. How
shall we prepare posts, SO that they
will last tor an indefinite period in
our sandy soil, and be within the
means OF majority Of fruit grow
ers and truck farmers?
give the result OF my investigan
lions, and believe the question salts
tactorily solved. The cause OF the
decay IN fence posts, is moisture,
which fosters tungoid growth. To
prevent this growth has led 10 the
trial of many substances that are
known TO- be inimical to or will de-
stroy them; such as coal~tar, creosote,
carbolic acid, &c.
A short time ago, having occasion
to take up some posts that l had
coated with unboiled Coal>.ar, and
which had been in the ground about
four years, was surprised to find them
perfectly sound. They were heart>
pine, but not what is called iat-pine.
Not having the coal-tar, and wishing
TO put mp Immediately nearly QUE
thousand feet OF plank fence, / tho't
of another plan which l am trying.
l remembered that when living in
grain country, I always soaked seed
wheat in solution OF bluestone TO
destroy smut, and that 1t always
proved efectual, concluded to adopt
the following plan: With halt-inch
auger bore slanting hole in the post
few inches above ground, and put
into each hole from half to one ounce
Of blue>stone, according to the size
OF the post. Since coming to this
conclusion 1 have found the follows
ing in copy Of the Field and Fire.
side, published in Georgia many years
ago; "a number Of years ago we
PUBLISHED in the Cultivator a receips
for soaking fence posts in solution
of blue vitriol, which is worth repub-
fishing at this time, particularly as
our attention has been recently called
to it. The receipt of Mr.. George Z.
Green OF Windsor, VT, as former :,
published was-'One pound of 49,
vitriol to forty pounds of waite r.
the timber is dry, soak it tie, go ..
if green six days will be "a Gayt t
This will do for all kinds .~4nol1n''
requiring exposure to tb W ~ ,in~e.
spouts, shingles, bean. ~ m'" s,nnoo
&C." A member { P iSo Ra STAKES srs
Club III Hudson, Il tne FARMERS
us. that at a la .ecently informed
Club the subiec % meeting OF the
conversation, was brought up fol
md one Of the members