Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-07-27
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN.
OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING EVERY
DAY MATTERS.

The Character and Cost VI Temporary
Fences-Stone Fences Live Fences OF
Various Shrubs Tho Usage Orange
Hedge-The Fence Of the Future.
The following comprehensive chapter
on fences, past, present and future, by
the agricultural editor of The World, is
both interesting and instructive:
However much progress may be made
hereafter in discarding fences altogether,
or in fencing stock in rathe rthan in fenc-
ing the public out, there can be no
doubt that the old time fences have had
their day and that at present all indica-
lions point to metal as the chief consti-
tuent of the farm fence of the future.
The first fence to be built was the brush
fence, as the cheapest one possible. AS
the trees were felled for the clearing the
brush, too green to burn readily, was
piled around the cleared margin or upon
logs laid along as foundation on which
the brush was placed. This was the rude,
primitive fence of the first settlers of q
large portion of the heavily wooded Sec
tons of this country. Then followed the
rail or worm fence, so called, which held
its sway alternately with the board fence
until from the dearness and scarcity of
lumber both have quite generally given
way to other forms.
If we except stone fences found only
in localities where the surface of the
ground was encountered with the mate
rial, and constructed with the double
purpose of removing distractions from
the soil and inclosing the field, the fences
of the country have been of a temporary
character, and each renewal has been
more costly than the preceding fence.
This led to the experiment of live fences
of various shrubs. Among the most
common and popular is the Usage orange
hedge, unquestionably the best for all
localities where it will endure the win
tiers. Under highly favorable conditions
it makes a rapid growth, and fence
that in short time will turn most farm
animals, either large or small.
In the prairie states hedges of willow
have had quite run, and the thorns
and honey locust have been extensively
used for the purpose in many sections Of
the country. Occasionally it has seemed
as though the live fence of one or an
other of these shrubs was to be the pre-
vailing type, but time has shown objec-
lions to them which there was general
disposition to overlook in the apparent
success of their first use. Against all
the hedges there is the serious objection
of cost in keeping them in subsection.
Unless pruned frequently and severely
some sections where they have been
highly popular for time they are fast
being superseded by the barbed wire
fence, the planting of hedges being dis
continued and many old ones grubbed up.
The question has been asked, how will
it do to plant trees to serve as posts for
the barbed wire fences, and again, are
not the barbed wires dangerous to ami
mails? To this it may be answered that
where row of trees along n roadside or
on n division line between farms is unob-
jectionable in itself, there is no reason
why the wires may not be fastened to the
trees, which may continue to be used as
permanent posts. If planted for the pur-
pose the quickly grown white willows or
for most sections.
AS regards injury to stock, the in
stances are comparatively few, and those
that occur can often be charged to care
lessness. Animals soon learn to have q
respect for barbed wire fences without
having received any serious injury from
them, and to persons who dislike the
barbed form the bright twisted ribbon
wire is about as repelling and more
readily seen than the barbed wire. The
fact that in the state of Iowa alone
Stated by good authority there are
now 500, 900 miles of barbed wire fence
is sufficient to show that but little, if
any, danger is apprehended from its use.
Again, it is believed that horses and cot
tie can see wire fence at a greater dis
lance than their owners can, either by
day or night.
The cheapness of the wire and the "a
pidity with which the fence can be put
in place are among its other recommend
atoms. A dilapidated wooden fence
may be made effective against all the
larger animals by stapling single wire
along it on the exposed side SO long as
there is enough of it standing to hold the
wire. For those who want durability at
a somewhat increased expense, posts of
iron are now made for the purpose
Three lines of wire make a good substan-
tial fence against all the principal farm
animals
The main posts should be strong and
firmly set to stand the stretching OF the
wire, for which stretchers can be bought
from those who deal in the wire. On
straight lines these main posts may be at
considerable distances apart; the inter-
vening posts for holding up the wires
can be much lighter, but should also be
firmly set in the ground. The spool of
wire is most conveniently carried by two
men with a round iron rod through the
spool, the spool revolving on the rod.
The wires should be firmly stapled at the
intermediate as well as at the larger and
corner posts.
Birds and the Insects They Destroy.
The following birds are to be classed
among the most helpful kinds In the
general warfare against insects: Robins
(cut, and other earth worms); swallows,
night hawks. purple martins (moth
catchers); pewees Striped cucumber
bugs; wood thrushes and wrens (cut
worms), cat birds (tent caterpillar);
meadow larks, woodpeckers, crows (wire
worms); blue throoted buntings (canker
worms); black. red winged birds, jays.
doves, pigeons and chippies (strawberry
pests; quails (chinch bugs, locusts);
whippoorwills (moths); hawks. all night
birds, owls, etc., tanagers and black
winged summer red birds (curculios).
For vegetables in sandy soil Massa.