The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-02-01
Another Correspondent on the
Fence Question.
Editor Of The Florida AgricuIturtst:

renee SucSClOH'
Editor Of The Florida AgriculturtSt;
Inever thought l would write
about our farming experience In
Florida but, as the saying goes, ga
fellow feeling makes us wonderous
kind" and the numerous letters on
the fence question written by differs
ent sufferers, to the AGR1CULTURIsT
have so touched the chord of SYM
pathy in us, that we resolved to add
our experience tc the list, III Aopes
that it may help to swell the agita.
ton which trust will increase un.
til the sound thereof shall reach and
rouse the Law Makers of this State,
to do away with the absurdity that
now stands as Fence Law. Without
further remark l will give little OF
our experience.
About eighteen months ago we
were newcomers. Husband pur~
chased our present property and
decided to fence and cultivate twenty
two acres OF the same which he did.
Now no one thought it necessary
then to inform us that such distinc-
tion existed as a lawful fence, we
thinking that all fences in good con-
dition ought to be lawful. So
fence similar TO what we saw around,
ten rails in height was put up, and
the cultlvating commenced. All
went merry as a marriage bell, until
our corn was waving tall and green.
Then came the cattle by the dozen
the leaders using their horns to lit
the rails down till the fence was low
enough to jump. Husband or the
man would have to leave their work
two and three times day 70 drive
cattle out Of different parts OF our
crops, then after driving them miles
away return to find their labor IN
vain for the cattle were back again
almost as soon as they. In fact 1t
was regular fight as to who would
get most of the corn, us, or the cattle.
AS to the hogs we saw nothing OF
them until we had sweet potatoes
ready for table and our spinders were
in bloom, then the work of destruc>
ton began. Not in daylight did
they come as you would expect
greedy hogs to do, but In the dead
OF night their unmistakable grunts
broke our rest husband jumped
out of bed and seized thick orange
stick, thinking our two Berkshires
had broken out OF the pen; no, 1t
was strange hogs. Using the stick
right and left he called the dog, but
it was no use. The night was pitch
dark and the hogs were in the major
ityA man and dog had to beat re-
treat until the first streak OF day
showed, then everyone turned out
and drove them eff the place. Old
hogs, young hogs, and hogs OF md MD
die age, all were there. AS soon as
our tarnf,. Il hanu came to work, husband
and he went round the fence to find
out where they had broken in, but
no part of the fence was either broken
or burrowed under; the only con~
clusion we could arrive at, was they
had been let in. The same visitation
occurred night after night until every
potato in an acre and half, also a
quarter of an acre OF pinders, were
eaten clean out, the raised ground
alone showing where the hogs had
been; we tried many ways to entrap
them but in vain. Neighbors said
shoot them; one in particular gave
this advice, he is colored and an
Alderman of the town, however, we
declined to act on it. On a certain
Sunday morning hog belonging to
this very alderman got shot eltner
on our land or close to, the following
day the worthy alderman came 10
husband demanding to know why
he had shot his hog. AS this was the
first intimation that husband had re"
ceived that the man possessed a hog
his surprise was great, especially as
he until then knew nothing OF the
shooting. Our neighbor went on TO
say, if he was only sure who had
done it, there was law in the lana
to punish them; husband gave him a