The record-union., 1896-05-17
FARM FENCING.
OId-Styie Fences Will Not be Used i'm
the Future.

There are few questions that have
given the farmer SO much perpleXing
trouble as how to fence his farm. If no
cattle or livestock were permitted to
run at large and all persons were to
show proper respect to their neighbOrS'
property and avoid all trespassing,
there would be little use for fencing,
except to form an inclosure for stock
on pasture lands. But whatever may be
the law in regard to stock running at
large, it has never so completely been
enforced that farmers can feel that their
crops are perfectly safe without being
inclosed by a fence.
When farms were new and cattle
were pastured on the unoccupied lands,
it was one of the chief troubles of the
carly settler to fence his farm, and it
cost him generally three or four times
as much money for the fence as for the
land Even to this day, if land is bought
at SO per acre, IT will cost as much to
fence it as to pay for the land
1t has been said by someone, who, We
suppose, has made the calculation, that
fences cost more than the railroads of
the land The old plan of building
fences from wooden rails has been al
most entirely abandoned and various
methods have been substituted. The
Usage orange fence has been used on
prairies and where wood for fencing
was scarce, but this has not given salts
faction on many "a accounts. The barbed
wire fence was the next substitute; this
was almost universally adopted on ac-
count of it's cheapness, and the rapidity
with which it could be put in place, but
il is far from being satisfactory, and
when a little out of repair it becomes
dangerous to cattle and horses, and is
very troublesome to the farmer him
self Besides, it's barbs are barbarous
and should be condemned as a nuisance
in a civilized community.
Now comes the woven smooth wire
fence to take the place of all that have
preceded it. 1t forms strong, neat
looking fence taking up less ground
than the old rail or Usage orange fence
and furnishing no hiding places for
rats and rabbits and no corners TOR
weeds and briars. A farm can be kept
with such a fence as neat and clean as
a garden and as open as II there were
no separation between the fields, and
vet each field is as securely separated
from it's neighbor as it can possibly be
made.
The comparative cost of these almost
perfect fences is not greatly above the
old rail. or as great as the board fence,
and it's superiority over the stretched
wire fence, either plain or barbed,
makes it to be preferred even at double
the price of these.
wire fence is, indeed, a happy and
| lucky thought, but it must be wire
fence that stands with dignity and
frmness on as little ground as possible,
ready to defend it's own fields, and yet
not all the time bristling for a fight.
1t must be a civilized, self-possessed.
strong and durable fence, which can be
approached civilly with safety, but not
easily beaten down. One which does
not require weeds and briars to defend
if as does the old rail fence, nor threat
ening barbs bristling on every side to
| protect it. as the straight wire fences
of every kind have generally been pro-
| tected. The kind of fence here indica-
| ted, and suited for civilized and Christ
| ian people, can be found in almost any
OF the woven wire fences now coming
| rapidly into use. They have all the
qualities for perfect defense against all
| transgressions of boundaries; besides,
| they are so transparent and good ma
y
| tured in their appearance that you can
| approach them and see just what is on
| the other side, without any danger of
| being caught in snag.
| These fences are not costly; they are
permanent. can not be blown over by a
| storm. and do not need constant watch
| ing.
| They must be the fences of the future.
They are easily and quickly erected and
will give satisfaction, as they have al
ready done to many a farmer. Besides,
| they will add beauty and neatness to
| the appearance of the farm, which will
| be a valuable stimulant to good farm
ing. Before building other fences or
repairing old ones, inspect the coming
| woven wire fence and try it, on it's
merits.-Farm News.
1