The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-09-28

| barrier erected for the restraint of stock
that presents an appearance of doubtful
strength invites investigation, and the in
vestigation is generally made. 1t is in this
way stock becomes "breachy." Were they
not led into temptation they would not be-
come so.
As, then, the behavior and consequently
in measure the usefulness of our domestic
| animals depend in large measure upon the
conditions under which they are surrounded
| it devolves upon owners to use proper care
| in all matters connected with their we'll be-
ing and comfort. To contine them in fields
from which all pasture has been eaten, and
| which adjon those on which there is lux
urious growth, is subjecting them to great
temptation, and is, to say the least, poor
economy; but the attempt to confine them
under these trying conditions by means of
| fences that are both defective and dangerous
amounts to downright cruelty. Your cor
respondent from How ard recommends wire
as the proper material, and makes the re-
markable assertion that lone strand is the
safest for hor -es, it will restrain your rogue
horse, but cows may crawl under it, though
they seldom do it. 1t has 'turned-out-of-
doors sort of look, that to me is pleasing"
| Now just here is where we differ. have
no objection to "the turned-out .of-door
look " part of it, provided the intention had
been to dispense with fencing altogether,
| but this is impractcable with those having
much stock, unless recourse is had 10 the
| soiing system, which we are not prepared
for yet. The Zone strand" stretched along
| the public highway, with nothing to indi
| cate its presence, except few stakes "about
| as thick a man. arm, - and an occasional
"snall post" certainly comes as near a
complete turnout as it is possible to get at
without going the whole hog. To me, this
| apology for fence would excite feelings
the very reverse of pleasing" and do not
think such a trap should be allowed along
the highways. 1t brings to mind a descrip-
| ton l once heard of a Georgia colonel's uni
form, which consisted of a shirt collar and
| a pair of spurs. They both Chat is, the
colonel and the fence) must have deci-
dedly "turned-out-look," which to some
10 q picdSiHB dSpOCts anu IL 10 uolu w
tell which would be the most dangerous to
tackle. The unsuspecting might be taken
in by either, but 1 believe would risk con
tact with the colonel before 1 would with
the fence. He certainly makes less effort at
concealment and shows at a glance just
what he is, and if injury results from undue
familiarity, ignorance cannot be relied on
as an excuse.
Your correspondent also says, 1.-THE main
thing is to have the barbs very sharp, and
close together, and so firmly fastened to the
cable that they will not dodge loose" what
ever that may mean), "and to have the
wire stretched so tight that it will not rag
more than a one-half inch in fifty feet, and
so that it will bristle with severity" The
bristling part is all right, except that there
is not enough of it; there is too much of the
severity and not enough of the bristling.
The tight" part is also right, but in this
respect it has no advantage over the colonel,
as he is generally found in the same happy
condition, and when we come to mot
lodging" bet on the colonel sure, 80 you
see In all the essentials he has it every time.
Your correspondent further on says, 1--WE
had young horse to run with full force
against this single wire, and he carried it
ten or fifteen feet on his breast before he
could stop and back out, which he did with
out apparent injury, as he continued to run
and play, but he never touched the wire
afterwards. Had the posts been large and
-. A. - haa,,
broken and the horse been injured" Now
here is something that l can't exactly I'M
derstand, and which seems to contradict
the former assertion, that the tight-stretch-
ing theory is the safest This frolicsome
young equine, by some unaccountable care
lessness, ran into this "bristling" barrier,
that fortunately was so loosely suspended
as to yield not "one-half inch" only, but
ten or fifteen feet, and backed out UNI
scratched, if not undismayed, and the In
ference is drawn from his miraculous escape
that had the wire been firmly fastened, as
recommended, it would have broken and
the horse been injured. What evidence is
there to show that the horse would have
been injured had the wire broken? Nine
times out of ten there would be less danger,
because as soon as the wire parted the
horse would be free. The chief danger con-
sists IN getting tangled, and the owner may
feel thankful for the escape in this instance.
Great apprehension is always to be expected
from this style of fence, and no animal can
be con sidered safe when surrounded by it.
This is, in great measure, owing to the fact
of its being almost invisible. Horses are
perhaps more likely to suffer, because they
are quicker of movement and more playful,
especially the young. l have never sus-
tanned loss in this way, simply because 1
have never had any of the fence, but sew
| eral of my neighbors have had valuable
horses nearly ruined by it. 1t is but fair to
state, however, that these accidents were
not caused by lone strand" as no person in
this county has ever attempted that plan,
and it is more than likely they never will.
| Five are generally used, and they are not
sufficient; one of my nearest neighbors had
| this number stretched along his lane, and
inspection. 1t certainly was weH put up"
| and presented as good an appearance as a
fence of the kind could, but as a means of
turning stock it proved failure. Sheep
and hogs went through it at pleasure, and
I saw a calf go through two or three times
made of the most approved wire, with
"barbs sharp and bristling.' It's resisting
power was not tried In regard to horses, as
the owner kept but one, and she had long
since passed her youthful days, and was of
an unenterprising disposition. 1 believe,
however, that by using about ten strands,
and placing the posts about twenty feet
apart, a fence can be built that will turn
| most animals except bulls, but this would
| be about as expensive as q good post and
| rail, and would neither look as well nor be
as safe. 1t must be remembered that almost
| any apology for fence will answer under
some circumstances. If stock of whatever
kind find an abundance to satisfy the orav-
ings of nature in the enclosure in which
they are placed, and have never been edu-
Gated to trespass, they will often make no
effort to secure a change; but if on the con-
trary, their allowance is scsnt, and they
discover in an adjoining field crop,
whether Of grass or grain, that presents q
speedier and pleasanter means of filling up,
they will be very apt to go for it. L. s.
Before the reading OF this paper, the
Club had an opportunity to test the hos
pitality of their host, in the shape of a
generous entertainment, in the enjoy
ment of which the members present