The Red Cloud chief., 1883-05-04
Farm Fences.

II Is claim-d by theorists. and also by
some pract cal farmers, that n | fencing
To inclose ca'tle Is a useless expense.
made necessary only by the costly
system Of pasturage. That soling or
the Keeping OF stock in the stable or
yard the year round NAV be profitable
ndcr some circumstances is not
den'ed. but that il can be adopted in
gene nj ~ra.t.cc in our country, nj least
IN the Eastern States. il not To bc eN
peeled. for icw farms are in whole ara
bic. ala ted To pow and To mowin =;
hence, fences are n necessity and the
question -. what style is most desira
bic. Taking into account cost. dura-
bilit,, and ell cacy. none is C iual To q
good stone wall and. in the long run.
none cheaper VIII re material is availa-
be.
On many farms stones must be re
moved for convenience OF Gu tivaiion.
and if removed To where permanent
fences are wanted, such rs line fences
or other permanent divisions. the ma
ierial for the best ences is there for all
time and the bu lding of a wall is no
more expensive thin The material and
labor of n good wood fence. and il
well built will last fifty years or longer
with but little repairs. the material be-
ing always on the spot when rebuilding
becomes necessary. A stone wall stand
ing four and n half feet high VIII t I'm
any animal that should be- allowed to
run at pasture, and if pigs are turned IN
To CLEAN the grain stubbles there is no
danger of their gett ng through into
other fields. Cattle and horses that
Jump n wood fence of the same height
w IL keep clear OF a stone wall.
To construct n good stone fence tn
sur ace should be taken of to the de tn
o. sly inches or more. according 10 soil.
This can be done with pillow and scraper
at small expense. and the earth taken
on should lie banked up to the wall
after il is built. The 70 ndatjon should
be about three feet broad and the wall
IA cred up IN each side equally to one
foot on top. tn be capped by one stone.
When the stone are small. As is usual
with field $ one. three or four courses
OF fat sticks should be- laid across t.
hold it from falling down by the action
OF frost on the foundation. For this
purpose cedar timber is btst. but any
timaer that splits freely will do. and
e,eI old slaves and refuse boards are
often used. Where field or quarry
stone are not found on The farm for
fencing, either wood or iron must be
used.
The best wood fence is the old Vir
ginia worm both rs 10 dur ability
and c~heapness. where timber is plenty
and suitable. ANY lasting timber. such
as cedar. chestnut. white oak or black
ash. makes good rails for wood fence.
and when prope ly laid. with stakes and
W re support. makes n We v Efficient
and lasting fence against all domestic
animals. The oh ect:on that it occupies
too much space is true where land is
used for cultivation eNclusiSel but not
when used for pasturage. The corners
are quite liable TO become filed with
briers and foul weeds. but the thorough
farmer will find time to destroy all uch
unsigh,ly and wasteful z owth.
The common pot and board fence
has at least the merit of neatneSs when
new and in pc feet repair. but il is the
most expensive fence the farmer builds
conside ing its lacks OF durability
from ten 10 fifteen year ! eing about h
lifetime of such 81 uctureS Tn mos.
soils the posts VII be lifted by frosts
from year Ia yea till the fence will
stand on legs and be twisted by the
winds, the boar!s torn off. and other
wise iii figured. Other ST. les of board
fence are const uc;ed either in panels
10 movable purposes or stayed on the
surface by di erent devices. bu; none
Of them have come into ommon use
on the farm. Barbed wire will be but
little used when other m terial is con-
ve1ient On the western p. ire. for
fencing against cate only. il has con-
/: idera5.e merit-CUr. ". i. Trytgns.