The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-21
FACTS ABOUT FENCES.
How to Utilize Trees Of Some Valuable
Timber for P0Stss


FACTS ABOUT FENCES.
How TO Utilize Trees Of some vsIuabIe
Timber for F0Stss
In many locations on the farm row
81 trees of some valuable timber might
be utilized as fence posts while grow
ing. In 1879 planted row of locust
trees, fifty rods long. on the south side
Of a permanent pasture, setting them
four feet apart. In four years they
were large enough to staple q single
barbed wire to about three feet from
the ground. A row Of hedge brush
was then laid along the ground close
to the roots of the trees and another
row leaned up like locks one against
each tree, resting on the wires At
an expense OF about ten cents rod |
had good fence for horses and cattle.
Every spring we draw q few hedge
brush and replace any needed. Two
hours each year keeps this line OF
fence in repair. and no stock have ever
broken through it. With two wires
the brush could be dispensed with. |
shall do some more tree planting for
this purpose, but will set tho trees but
two feet apart in tho row, and place
every tenth tree six inches out
of line, SO that the wire will only como
into contact to the trees to which it is
fastened. A row OF trees can be utilized
as posts for fence to turn hogs and
sheep by making the panels separate,
mailing the boards to light uprights
and setting them against the trees.
The bottom OF each panel may be
secured by stake and the top by q
tarred string or wire fastened loosely
50 as not to cut the tree. II trees wero
set two or three feet apart three boards
would be sufficient for fence OF this
kind, for the spreading tops OF the
trees would keep the stock from jump
ing. think the soft maple would be
good tree for this purpose. as 1t
makes very rapid growth and has no
insect enemies that know Of. Or. il
one wishes to use the Usage orange
for hedge / believe the best way is
to set the plants two feet apart. and as
soon as they are large enough staple a
wire to them. After thirty-ive years
experience with Usage orange | would
not plant or recommend it except in
locations where it can be allowed to
grow without trimming, as it is a rapid
grower and requires too much valuable
time to keep it close trimmed. From
my experience with the soft maple
believe that in twenty years a row OF
trees planted two or three feet apart
would cut cord of wood to the rod Of
trees in single row. In small row
they will grow more rapidly than when
a block Of them are planted together.
Locust trees will grow into posts In
less than fifteen years. A row OF 10
Gusts planted nine years ago will now
cut good posts. with occasionally 9
tree large enough to split and make
two posts. They are planted on
ridge in the poorest part of the
farm. have grown naples on my
best land which measured foot II
diameter before they were fifteen years
planted. In starting q row Of trees fOl
fencing purposes always plant then
at one year old from the seed. wher
they are so small that 100 will only
make bundle as large as sheaf o
wheat. do this because when tree
are taken up at one year old the root
need not be broken at all, and the tree
being small they can be protected iron
drying by old sacks and arc hardl.
checked in their growth by the re
moval. The sooner it is to grow tn
better it will flourish. 1t adjusts itsel
to its surroundings much more readil,
, than if allowed to grow three or fou
years on different soil.
Then, too, the labor of transplantin
is very small with these young trees
, Enough to set row a mile long can b
: carried on a spring wagon. No dig
, ging Of holes is necessary. as dee
furrow with two-horse plow will tax
| the roots, and with a boy to hold tn
, trees upright and two men with ligh
, shoyels to put the soil to the roots
/ half-mile row can be planted in 4 day
| The row of trees ought to be as care
fully cultivated rs row Of corn TO
i two years. as the growth will b
! greatly retarded by weeds or grass q
tended few feet and the tops begin I
shade the ground no further cultiv;
tion will be necessary. Perhaps som
| one will urge the objection that ro'
: of trees through the farm will occup
too much land. / would reply that
r has been proved over and over thu
4 with timber belt every fifty rods. o.
: cupying one-eighth Of the land. the r.
0 mainder will grow more grain than ii
d whole would without this protection
Y / have seen, in years when the whe'
t crop was an entire failure on win'
!. swept fields, good crop when pr
t tected by timber. In other cases COZ
was prostrated by wind and bad
y damaged in exposed places. but stoe
9 up straight where the fields We're pr
d tected. Another objection urged
# the time one must wait, but row
d trees will grow large enough to su
d port wires in less time than heds
n will grow large enough to turn stoc
e By setting post once in 100 feet. NJ
d a light stake every rod, the row
trees can be utilized at two or thr
t. years from planting; for two wir
y stretched close up to the trees W
n turn cattle better than three witho
it the trees. am sure that If farne
Is would try this plan they would
IS pleased with it and it would be large
adopted. There is a great differen
between making fence at cost
twenty-five cents rod and in tifte
years having it worth 81 or more. a.