The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-31
farm AND GARDEN.
The Employment Of Living Trees for Support
Ing Bsrbed Wire in Making Farm Fences
Other Notes.
Trees as Fence Posts.

place of posts in constructing fence
were. says The Chicago Times, mad
before plain or barbed wire came int
use as substitute for boards. Th
boards were nailed to the trees in tn
same manner they were to posts. Thi
method of supporting fence board
did not often prove to be satisfactory
The boards needed support ever,
eight feet, and the trees generally Sc
out for ornamental purposes were or
dinarily sixteen feet apart. 1t wa.
accordingly necessary to set post, OF
strong stake between the trees. A
fence thus supported generally pre-
sented an unsightly appearance. 1t
was rarely the case that the trees all
stood in line. There were other diff
culties in the matter. Many of the
trees were inclined by the action of
the wind. Some of them had crooked
trunks, that made it difficult to fasten
the boards to them. A large proper
ton of the trees used for posts were
locusts, or white naples, which were
liable to be destroyed by borers. These
and some other kinds of trees blew
over during severe storms and broke
the boards that were attached to them.
In some cases the injury done to the
trees by driving nails into them
caused them to become deformed or
to die.
When wire was introduced as q SUBJ
stitute for boards in making farm
fences more attempts were made to
use living trees instead of posts.
There was not as much difficulty in at
taching wire as boards to them, as
supports are only needed once a rod.
With wire it is not necessary to have
the supports at uniform distance
apart. Still, difficulties were found.
Many tall trees were swayed to the
wind so that they broke the wire that
was fastened to them. In some cases
the staples were drawn out, and in
Others the WIRE was stretched so that |
II hung loose between the trees. OF |
course the amount of land that could |
be inclosed by using growing trees for
supports for fence wire was compare
lively small, as trees had not been
planted on the lines where fences were
wanted. In the newly-settled portions
OF the west where the greatest amount
OF fence was required, the trees, ex-
cept those Intended to produce fruit,
had been set out Supports for fence
wire were in great demand in those
places, and cedar or other wood suit
able for lasting posts is expensive.
were accordingly made
In putting down pieces pieces of the trunks
of poplar or white willow trees, with =
new OF having them take root and 9
grow. In northwestern Iowa MANY :
niles OF fence have been made by =
astening wire to green poplar or will =
ow posts. which will probably take q
DOT and grow. 5,
Several landowners have set cut o
ngs of willow or cottonwood on the 4
mes where they expect to make fenco
the course of few years. They
lace them on an exact line at the dis a
'nce of rod apart They think that o
ley will be of sufficient size to sup G.
ort fence wire in the course of about u
We years, They will remove the limbs q
rom the trunks for the space of five o.
six feet from the ground, and en- q
eavor to make them grow staight. &c
hey will cut off the tops of the trees q
D that they will not grow more than Ia
an feet high. BY keeping them short &c
hey will be less likely 10 be swayed to
he wind. The portions cut off can be be
sed for forming more supports. al
armers who have large quantities of II
md and are in no need of inclosing re
u OF it would find it to their advan- m
lge to set out trees of slower growth, m
ut OF more lasting qualities than any of
arlety OF poplar or willow. The kind tic
trees should be suited to the soil in
nd climate of the locality where it is ex
anted. Trees that have straight in
unks and which are not likely to
split or injured by insects should do
selected. Trees that will make ..N
'od supports for fence wire will be in No
'mand in all the western states and IN
rritories within few years. so
Minor Notes. Dy
Dairymen the country over are suf- wv
ing from unusually low prices of s gu.
tier, cheese and milk. w
Beans produce an enormous crop in -;
eply trenched soil, and are much or,
proved by surface manuring.
peas are recommended as a rh,
cd crop to smother wire grass. no
grass can not thrive in the dense Wi
lde. W.
\ Dakota farmer is said to No
We raised seventeen bushels of ~
eat in three years from one grain of ba,
d. I'a'
IL