The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-10-10
TREES AS FENCE POSTS.
How Trees May be Utilized as Supporters
for Barbed Fencing,

How Trees May be UB1llZeu as SupPOEbeNo
for Barbed Fencing
Attempts to utilize trees to take the
place of posts in constructing fences
were made before plain or barbed |
wire came into use as substitute for |
boards. The boards were nailed to the
trees in the same manner they were to
posts. This method of supporting
fence boards did not often prove to be
satisfactory The boards needed a sup
port every eight feet, and the trees
generally set out for ornamental pur-
poses were ordinarily sixteen feet apart
1t was accordingly necessary to set
post, or strong stake, between the
trees. A fence thus supported gener-
ally presented 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 fasteG
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 a sub
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 attaching wire as
boards to them, as supports are only
needed once rod. With wire it is
not necessary to have the supports at a
uniform distance apart. Still, difficult
ties 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
it 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 portion
of the West, where the greatest amount
of fence was required, the trees, except
those intended to produce fruit, had
been set out. Supports for fence wire
in great demand in these places, and
cedar or other wood suitable for last
ing posts is expensive. Experiments
were accordingly made in putting
down pieces of the trunks of poplar Oh
white willow trees; with view of hav-
ing them take root and grow. In
} Northwestern Iowa many miles OF
fence have been made by fastening wire
, to green poplar or willow posts, which
will probably take root and grow.
Several land owners have set cuttings
of willow or cottonwood on the lines
J where they expect to make fences in
) the course of a few years. They place
, them on an exact line at the distance
of rod apart. They think that they
, will be of sufficient size to support
fence wire in the course of about five
wears. They will remove the limbs
!, from the trunks for the space of five OIL
six feet from the ground, and endeavol
to make them grow straight. They viii
cut off the tops of the trees so tha
:. they will not grow more than ten fee
high. By keeping them short they will
be less likely to sway to the wind. The
portions cut off can be used for form
: ing more supports. Farmers who have
. large quantities of land and are in M
3 need of inclosing all of it would find i
= to their advantage to set out trees o
= slower growth, but Of more lasting
> qualities than any variety of poplar O
: willow. The kind of trees should b.
y suited to the soil and climate of tn
3 locality where it is wanted. Tree
= = that have straight trunks and which ar,
! not likely to be split or injured by in
& sects should be selected. Trees tina
: will make goodsupports for fence wir
: will be in demand in all the Western
= States and Territories within a few
!. years Chicago Times.