The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-29
Larger Fields and Cheaper Fences.


Experience and observation have led
me to believe that on most farms the
cost of fencing might be reduced one
half, and in some cases still more. This
saving can be effected by reducing the
amount of fencing and by adopting
cheaper styles of fence. Why should a
farm be fenced into ten-acre fields, or
less. as many are? affirm that at least
one-half of the best pillow land on every
farm could be probably thrown into
one field and never pastured. / have
practiced this on Eastview Farm for
eighteen years, having S xty acres out
of the ninety of which the farm con-
sists, in one field, and on this we never
turn stock. think this land has been
Just as profitable as it would have been
divided into four or six fields, and it
has been easier to keep 1t in good con-
ditiou, for as we have not pastured it
at all we get very heavy growihs of
clover to pillow under. and our land is
never tramped.
Another way in which great saving
may be effected on many farms is by
fencing against cattle only. l have
tested the matter for many years. and
found wo-board fence turned cattle
as well as any other. To make fence
that will turn hogs viii cost about one
third more than to turn cattle only. and
yet there are many farms ON which less
than score of hogs are kept where
every fence is hog proof, and the keep
ing of these fences in this condition
costs more than the profit on the hogs,
NH 10 hn loft IN
single lot near the barn they would be
Just as profitable as if allowed the
range of the farm. One needs to be
careful in adopting new kind of fence,
lest he find too late that he has some
thing which does not suit. There are
thousands of farmers who planted
largely of hedge who would be willing
to lose the whole of it if they could
burn it up. but the digging out of an
old hedge involves nearly as much eX-
pense as making new fence.
| have had thirty-two years expe-
rience with Usage orange hedge, and l
find it is so troublesome to care for that
l would not allow man to plant
another on my farm if he would do it
for nothing and care for it till it would
turn stock. | would, however, make
this exception: if the hedge adjoins a
permanent pasture, or divides two pas
ture fields so that it can be allowed to
grow for years without trimming, it is
the cheapest fence that can be grown;
and SO long rs it is not trimmed the
thorns are not objectionable. To keep
hedge neatly trimmed requires that
it be gone over three times summer,
and while the labor is not great if
done at the right time, it must be done
ut a season of the year when other
farm work is crowding. and if neglect
ed two weeks beyond the proper time
the new growth becomes hard and
woody. so that good shape can not be
preserved to the hedge and the thorns
are scattered to prove a constant nui-
sance.
Wire is cheap material for fences,
as it enables the farmer to use crooked
posts, and also To set them greater
distance apart than can be done wnen
boards are used; but | am afraid 10 use
Or recommend barbed wire to much ex-
tent. as there is great danger TO stock,
especially horses. from its use Within
the past three months two Of the twelve
members of the farmers club to which
l belong have had horses jured on it;
one. mare, struck at a horse on the
other de of the fence, and caught her
foot. cutting it so that she bled to Death.
The other ran against high strand OF
the wire and cut her shoulder open so
tina. the skin CAPPED four inches. While
such accidents are of frequent occur
renee, it is certainly wise to use some
other material than barbed wire for
fencing. | see no reason why plain
wire should not be used and prove eff
feet We and cheap for fence.
have seen some very good fences
made of plai wire with the posts thirty
two feet apart and light stake driven
every SIX feet The wire beng stapled
to the stakes can not be spread apart to
let stock througl. and three-inch
strip of board, about three feet from the
ground, fastened TO these stakes, makes
the fence visible so that stock will not
run against it. The stakes may be
sawed two inches square, or ii one has
locust grove the trimmings may be
used for this purpose. A good cattle
fence with three wires and three-inch
strip of board can be made for from
thirty to, forty cents a rod Perhaps
the most economical fence TO most
farmers is well-built and substantial
poSt-and- board fence. and there are
several w,egs in which the cost of this
NAV be reduced Waldo H. Broom, in
y. y. Tribune