The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21
The Egis & Intelligencer
THE DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUP.
A Talk About Fencing.

were Messrs. Hopkins, j. W. Hanna, Secretary
Geo. E. Silver, VIM. Munnikhuysen, james
Lee, William D. Lee, r. John Rogers, g. r
Stephenson, James F. Keny, Bennett II. Barnes
and F. W. Baker. Among the honorary MEM
hers and invited guests were II, Z Lawder, E.
G. Hopkins, WIN. q. Wilson, ID. +. Price, John
4 Bayless, DIR. W. W. Hopkins, b. +. Hanway,
n. A. Osborn, VIM. Stephenson, $. NJ. Bayess,
Robert Stephenson aud VIM. Parker.
James Lee, G. X. Stephenson and VIM.
Munnikhuysen, the committee to inspect Mr..
Hopkins stock and premises, reported that they
noticed, since the club last met at this place,
several Improvements, including a new fine
porch, a new hog house with pen OF Tat hogs,
and better arranged stables. He IS stock cattle
are a good lot of well-bred steers, weighing
about 900 pounds each, and he has dome nice
hOme-raised calves. His corn is good, the yield
having been IA barrels to the acre. Mr.. Hop
kins' farm looks well. Everything in good
order and in place. The topic select d for dis.
cussion was
FENCING.
Mr.. VIM. B. Hopkins remarked that the sub.
jet was of great interest to farmers. lie said
that statistics were given, showing that in
Hartford county there are 1Si,23l acres of i'm
proved land, valued at about 80 1880. The
number of farms is estimated 10 be ], 800, aver
aging in size about % acres, and the cost
OF fencing each farm would amount
TO about 81 900, or total cost in the county
of Sl,3G0,000. The annual interest on this
sum, TO say nothing of the cost of repairs,
would amount to $Sl, 900 year, or nearly as
much as is raised for county tax purposes. He
estimated the cost of fencing as follows: Good
post aud rail fence SLIGO per perch stone
fence, with the stone at hand, Sl.25 per
perch board fence, Sl.5O per perch; hedge
fence, Sl.25 per perch; worm fence, 81 per
perch. Where a farmer has stone on the
place, stone fence is the cheapest and most
durable. He has stone fences on his farm which
have been standing for IS years He rebuilt
one on the old foundation at a cost of 10 cents
perch. He regarded 1t "a foolish b fence a
" hn1 MIA Tluya IRli ha ant
In an orchard or lot.
The opinion of the members was unanimous
that where post and rail fences are used, the
best material is locust posts and chestnut rails
All agreed, too, that farmers do more fencing
than Is necessary.
Geo. Z. Silver asked the average duration oil
most fence. Mr.. Hopkins thought that with
nal repairs il would last 40 years. Jas.
.nqa thought it would last only % years,
Gould then be reset and would last q few
\>.fs longer.
a, WIN. &. Wilson approved of hedge fences
when properly atteided to. They should be
Trimmed three times a year. Good chestnut
posts Outlast oak Posts last longer in sandy
THAI In heavy, wet soil. lie had heard it said
that posts set with the upper end in the ground
Uutlast those set as they grew. Round locust
posts will last longer than split posts. Posts
should be seasoned before being used.
James Lee doubted ii fencing pays. He was
inclined to think that farmers would make
more If they would soil Their stock. If we
calculated the cost of our fences 1t would sur.
prise U.S. He has in his farm 225 acres, which
1t requires Is 0C0 rails to fence. He has 1850
panels of post fence, worth 81 per panel; TO-
400 rails in worm fence, worth $50 per thou
sand and 3G2 panels of board fence. His
fences cost at least 81, 800, or over $40 an acre.
and they must be renewed every % or 40 years
lie was opposed to wire fences, as dangerous to
stock.
DR.. W. W. Hopkins thought that post abd
rail fences are better for division fences, and he
would use ouly three or four rails For road
fences, If protected by an embanbmeut. wire is
the cheapest. A hedge fence also makes good
border In view of the estimate given by the
President of the cost OF fencing, 1t is an i'm
portant matter and 1t would be well TO consider
II some means cannot be taken to lessen the
cost Farmers are not justified in making
fences hogproOf so that their hogs can run in
the fields. They should be kept in an orchard
lot.
b. Frank HanwAy said farmers can do with
fewer fences. Worm fences are the cheapest
wooden fences for inside fences any farm
hand can move them. For outside fences he
likes the hedge fences of the Frederick company
Young chestnut and oak last too short time
10 Justify farmers IN using either for fencing.
Harry Z. Lawder said that as q cattle dealer
he was interested in seeing good road fences.
If farmers took away their road fences 1t would
require an army of men and boys to drive
20 or 100 cattle along the public roads. He did
not see how farmers could Craze cattle without
fencing.
Henry A. Osborn regarded stone ms the cheap
est fencing material, where 1t can be had
Worm fences are best for use along woods or
Tor outside fences, but for division fences he
prefers post and rail.
John z. Bsyless prefers post f. ices and
thought them probably the cheapest the end.
He had had me experience with All old stone
fence ana had often wished 1t of IN place. A
tour-rail fonce Is high enough. He was opposed
to fencing against hogs.
VIM. ID. Lee said the kind Of fence which
farmer should use would depend upon the ma
tctial he has. If he has plenty of good stone he
might use them, but he prefers post and rail
fences. In making them you have rough rail-
left and these can be used to advantage in
worm fence. He believed great deal more
WIRE fence would be used after awhile. Any
one almost, can put up worm fence and 1t is
X. John Rogers spoke in favor of wire fences
because they are the cheapest and most easily
kept clean. He would not pasture horses in u
field enclosed by them but there is no danger to
cattle. farmer ought TO have special enco-
sure for horses. If you have locust posts too
small for anything else they will answer for u
wire fence. Such fences should be well braced
at each end and both ways at every curve. The
most economical wooden fence is the worm
fence. 1t does not take up as much room as
some suppose aud the fence corners afford good
grass. lie preferred the buckthorn to the barbed
Bennett II. Barnes considered worm fences the
cheapest. Posts cut IRON locust trees grown
naturally In a grove will last longer than those
from trees which have been planted out sepa-
rately. He advocated fewer fences. 1t is not
necessary to have farm divided up into small
lots. He disliked wire fences because of the
danger TO horses that are turned out
3. NJ. Bayless regarded post fences, of either
three or four rails as the best. On farm of 100
acres or less he would not try to fence against
hogs A worm fence is the cheapest and it had
been said that any farm hand can build one, but
he finds few who know how TO stake and rider
worm fence. IL he had not rails and posts on
the place he would plant hedge fences.
James w. Hanna likes post and rail fences the
best along pubic roads OF lanes but for cross
fences or through woods he prefers worm fences
IL made properly, they are hog-proof, horse-hgh
and bull-proof. They should consist of ave
heavy rails aud double rider. They can be
ing timber to buy 1t would be cheaper TO use
wire.
VIM. Munnikhuysen said worm fences are The
cheapest II farmer has the timber If no, post
and rail fences, OF locust and chestnut, are the
most economical. He had tried wire fence on
a bank along the pLb bile road and did not like 1t.
1t can easily be broken by persons who want TO
get through. Posts will last longer If the upper
ends are set In the ground; If you cut cane in
Ine WOODS ana set IL IN the corner as II grew 1t
reverse 1t you will find it will dry without crack
ing. His observation did not lead him to favor
hedge fences. Stock will eat them and Kill them
ihos. a. Hays said he liked stone fences least
but where good stones are close at hand they
make good permanent fence, when well built.
The iron or wire fence is the fence of the world.
When made OF good material it is durable ana
the cheapest fence. 1t can be quickly and easily
built and removed and is the best to stand wind.
WAFER or snow. Small, round, seasoned locust
posts, valueless for other fencing purposes, can
be used forit. All corners and curves should be
we'll braced and the posts well set. Such a fence.
with six wires or less. will cost only half as much
per rod as most other fences. Where horses are
pastured wire fence should have shield board
near the top of the posts. The bucktborn aud
Gillian are said to be among the best wire fences
No green timber should be used IN any fence. 1t
Is mistake to cut up old trees for posts Hedge
fences are pretty, but nuisance Ii not properly
attended to. They cal be grown to turn all
kinds of stock. Poor fences indicate sloveny
farming and bad management.
David Il. Price said he uses all kinds of fences
Along the creek he iound awire fence, stretched
from tree to tree, would not wash away. A stone
fence is the cheapest to keep up If you have stone
ON the place. Running east and west they will
not stand as long as rrnning north and south
because the sun lhaws the frost cut on the south
side before IL affects the other side. A worm
fence Is the most economical of all fences
George h. Silver did not believe farmers could
do without fences Land is too cheap here yet
to engage in soiling as is done in foreign coun-
tries We can make more money by pasturing
at large and feeding. The cost OF fencing is very
great. 1t is not only the first cost thar we must