Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-24
Stauntotl Spectator,
WEDNESDAY,, JULY "a. 1889.
The Hedge Fence.

can be studied and its teachings applied
are best appreciated by those who are
earnestly seeking progress and prosperity
through the means of cultured labor and
industry rather than in speculation or
large gains derived from risk and adven-
ture. All rejecting men must admit these
truths, and to no class are its Heaven-born
ipjunctions more specifically committed
for the value of their lessons than the one
to whom they were first delivered-the
farmer-and to that class the practical facts
now adduced are directly presented.
Trus economy is organic in its functions
and when properly applied on the farm
produces thrift as a consequence, but it is
capable of more by the simple application
of cultured taste, thus securing unlimited
ornamentation at trifing cost and not to be
estimated for moment in that account in
the scale Of values thereby produced.
The farmer who has in his annual prog
ress in the culture of his acres studied and
practiced economy is not waiting to be in
formed by theory of it's value, for he has
already gained practically in increased
crops and renewed soil the essential knowl'
edge that economy lays foundations, and
only upon such a base is he assured of en-
during prosperity. The economy which he
has thus learned and practiced, if further
applied, will illustrate the truth asserted at
the commencement of this article. 1t will
pervade every department from the interior
of his household to the extent of his en-
closures and forests assuring thrift and
profit for expenditure and labor. and secur-
ity from depredations by stock, and all as
ISOLATED with beauty and unlimited orna-
meutation.
In proceeding with the object in hand,
we propose to pass by for the present all
the considerations growing out Of an object
lesson upon the farm except its roadside
and subdivision lines.
The cost of fencing is the one great
drain upon the income from the farm
The abundance of n aterial for wood fences
is bus small relief in meeting the contin-
ually exacting draft on that basis of pro-
lection, for in this country every farmer
has not only to fence against his own, but
the stock of his neighbors as well asall roam
ing at large. Discrimination to adopt new
plans or theories to secure impregnable
barriers for protection with fences has its
weight, especially if the foundation for 1t
is to be built by degrees as is the case with
live Or hedge fence. An important, but
yet very plain truth in this connection
should be considered. 1t is this-a living
or hedge fence is of perpetual existence;
all others decay and are the continued OBJ
iects of reconstruction and repairs. The
hedge-fence, when properly constructed,-
it's foundation having been properly pro-
vided for,-may seem to be slow IN arriving
at maturity, but when il reaches that stage,
expenditure upon it, except the light one
of trimming, is over, whilst the fence con-
structed of dead material as cotemporary
of the other, has passed its time of service,
and the vacancy ready for repetition of
the draining process of reconstruction and
repairs.
We might look at the question from the
standpoint it is viewed in the most prosper
GUS and best cultured farming districts in
Europe, and there learn an impressive les
son in this branch Of farm economy. To
strengthen this view, we are abundantly
sustained too by the progress made in
building hedge-fences in the western States,
and, lastly, we can come from the prairie
fields to our own charming Valley of Vir-
ginia and gather strength as we proceed
with this object-lesson in farm economy,
and, being the next in importance &c
shelter and houses in utility, it also be
comes elegant in its besuteous adorDmeni
t the homestead.
Some attention in the way Of limited i'll
vestigation and practical effort for securing
hedge-fence has been appropriated By the
writer of this article, but he labored undel
gaging in the same purpose experienced
the proper knowledge of preparing thu
ground and of planting, and, in the earl,
stages of growth, in training, to secure tn
foundations of a fence that will resist tn
passage of small swine. This has been tn
prime cause which has led to ahandone,
hedges that are the monuments of the ne
cessity to be taught how to plant, how t
train, and how to complete the design, b
methods which relieve the effort of th
enormous labor required before those of tn
present time were introduced, and the
not securing the complete barriers that ar
now grown.
The necessity for fencing material ia
timberless country like the prairie plain
of the West, and the growing of hedges b.
methods insurirg better utility and re
suits Superior to those which, as stated
often ended in abandonment of the design
were obstacles which farm economy de
manded should be overcome. Efforts an
ingenuity to that end were applied, a I'D, a
in the case Of the reaper and other econom
ic inventions, it was accomplished, au'
patents secured upon the original AM
amended designs. By these plans, in tn
West and in the North, and, as stated. il
our own Valley, the execution has beel
carried on, and the perfect living fence ha
been secured, and at cost which compare
with the old methods just about in thu
manner it would be to harvest a field @
wheat with hand-cradles to that of IT,,
complete binder that is now upon ever.
farm whose owner ranks with those O
progress and success, and that, toe, in tn
real economic view Of the question.
The Usage Orange is the preferred plant
and hedge progress is now established an(
progressing, having passed over the period
of experiment and matured into fruition a
perfect barrier to all kinds of livestock
and, in proportion to the degree of tast'
and culture bestowed upon it. becomes al