Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-18
BnrDei wire For Fencing.
~ FrL& 4. hHGPp, Dca" cfth" S"hooi@' A@''-
culture, AmcS, Ia.

ctUNfc, dHicS, tH'
Among the fundamental questions IN
farm economy, fences are the most inn
uortant. because Of their extent, protec-
ton, first cost, and rapid decay. With
in fifteen wears, and more prominently
within ten years, new material
harbed wire-has demanded public Ia
vOr, with very many arguments pro ana
con. In the Northwestern StatcSit has
RAPIDLY becomes established III the con-
tiGcncc Of the farmers, and mainly sup
planted all other fencing. Let Us con-
slider from the standpoint Of the prairie,
some of the REASONS for this sudden
pourIlarity. Tie following are some Of
the +, QuiSitS iur 4 periaCt fence: LIST. 1t
must form reliable barrier 10 the pas
SAGE OF stock and must be furnished at
q moderate cost. ID. Ii must be simple,
durable in allplaceS and climates, easily
transported, and Immediately available
for a fence. sd. 1t should occupy the
least space practicable, thereby wasting
little land, attordingnO harDOr for weeds,
and not seriously detecting thelandScape.
BarbCd wire comes nearer meeting ali
there conditions, IN the larger portion
of the United States, than any other
material Compared with hedge, board,
or rail fence, it can claim superiority i'll
nearly every point fora valuable fence
on the farm. The main objection urged
to it, use is that of cruelty. II is claimed
that horses in particular are liable 10 run
AGAINST it and be seriously injured, if not
manned for life. Ii this objection is
valid, and cannot be removed, then the
use of barbed wire will he limited. Care
full Observers, however, have noted that
the il Jury to animals has arisen from
the stock being unaCcustOmed To wire
fence, or from its faulty construction.
Horses and cattle have had little respect
for ordinary board and rail fences, of
the country, and only the well disposed
have been restrained by them. The
first thing is to teach animals to enter
tain becoming respect for Il fence, and
one that looks like a skeleton. While
they are learning this lesson, quite like
ly some of them may get hurt; but once
learned they always regard u line OF
posts as very significant. Injury to
stock has more frequently arisen from
faulty construction than from any other
cause. A majority of prairie fences are
made Of three wires, which Is Il mistake,
because the distance of the wires apart
offers constant temptation To The ami
nal.
Experience has demonstrated the
practical value of the following Sugge3-
tiUnS for constructing barbed-wire fence:
Set substantial posts one rod apart; the
posts ut the starting point should be
braced by cutting notch in two and
half feet from the ground, and running
a strong pole from the notch to the foot
of the second post, where it is fitted 10
rest firmly, and is supported.abOut three
inches above the ground by means ola
short block driven down besides the
fencC-pOSt This method of bracing
should be repeated once in forty rods.
A faulty construction would be to cut
notch in the ground, make the brace
shorter and allow the lower end to rest
upon the ground; for the moment the
wire is tightened upon the fence, the
short brace acts rs fulcrum to lift the
initial posts. When the posts are set
wire is wrapped firmly around the first
post, four feet and two inches from the
ground: then the coil is unrolled forty
rods and the wire drawn tight by means
of n set of small pulleys with grapples.
Afterthis wire has beensecurely stapled,
second is similarly fastened one foot
below it, and a third and fourth below
this leaving foot space between the
respective wires; the gOund space is
fourteen inches. Four wires thus ar
ranged make perfect cattle fence.
For horses the lower wire should be
without barbS to prevent cutting the
kneb, and a fifth wire should be placed
upon the posts five feet from theground.
The upper wire prevents accidents by
attempting 10 reach over the fence.
Instead of the upper wire u galvanized
steel-barbed ribbon, is used rs more
slightly for horses,
For swine, the fourth wire of a cattle
fence Is raised four inches, and two
barbcd wires placed at equal distances
below. For sheep the three lower wires,
as in fence for swine, are smooth. Thus
constructed, barbed wire, while uniting
all the conditions of a perfect fence, is
comparatively harmless. Upon the
Iowa Agricultural College farm there
are nine miles ofbarbed-wire fence, in
closing pastures upon which Craze 10
horses and cattle; during the season of
1881 not an animal has been scratched
to draw blood, except in one instance, and
that was slight and due 10 a faulty con-
struction of the fence. Barbed wire will
not answere for fencing in narrow lanes
and yards, or any place where animals
are liable to be crowded against it.
Yards and lots for sheep can be made
practically dog-proof by placing one
barbed wire near the ground, three
fence boards above, and three wires
above the boards; the wire prevents
digging, and the upper wire suggest that
the dog better not climb. Within such
an inclosure the grateful sheep rest in
perfect security.
An affectionate mother, noticing her
little daughter wipe hermouth with her
dres sleeves, as'eed what her handkerchief
was for, and received for answer: "Its
to shake at the ladies in the street.
That's what papa does with his"