Evening journal., 1921-03-23
DISCOVERIESIN
AGRICULTURE
Fencing of Farms Under
went a Big Change Dur
ing the Last Century
WIRES DISPLACE
WORN OUT FENCES

or all the changes wrought in the
farming industry during the last
century none is more noticeable
.han that in fencing. say specialists
of the United States Department OF
Agriculture. All over the Eastern
United States there are hundreds OF
niles Of stone-wall fences which are
monuments to the patience and
horoughncss of earlier generations.
Overlapping this territory and ex-
tending west are found fences OF
split rails. with their familiar weeds
and berry bushes In the angles while
still farther west, where there was
neither wood nor stone. are seen
Usage and other hedges. These are
natural productions Of the times.
The farmers Of New England
built stone walls as the easiest way
20 get rid OF the rocks on their fields.
These stone fences are practically
everlasting and should be main
tanned. though new construction is
out of the question because OF the
labor cost. The farmers of the APP
palachian region and Of the Ohio
basin found timber plentiful and
labor cheap. The rail fences they
built were economical and service
able. and that type has been aban-
doned only for lack of material. The
prairie farmers planted hedges be-
cause they had none OF the other
materials. The land wasted was
not taken into consideration; but
this is an era Of scarcity Of material
and high labor rates. and even the
trim board fences. which succeeded
more cumbrous designs. are imprac-
ticabie.
The farmer usually finds today
that barbed wire or woven wire
fence will best serve his ends for
new construction, and at the same
time cost least. Barbed wire is
used on large stock ranges where
loss Of one or two animals through
wire cutting is not serious. but for
he farmer with fine horses. or a
Ielected herd Of cattle. large mesh
voven-wire fences are coming more
nto use.
The manner in which the fence
erected has much 20 do with its
iervice. The ends and corners are
~ far the most important element
If a fence. II is essential that they
remain firm and solid in order "a
-old the fence rigid. The first
hing to consider is placing the cor
lers. The posts used should b.,
large enough to give sufficient
strength: they should be set deer
enough TO prevent heaving by tho
action Of frost; they should be brac.
cd from each direction Of tension
by a stout rail about - feet long
preferably inserted in a mortise oi
notch Of the post. and firmly footed
with a small post.
Metal and concrete posts are OF
the market, but a great many farm
ers cling to wooden ones The lint
posts should be approximately foul
nches In diameter. Various woods
are used, including Usage orange
locust, red cedar. mulberry and burr
oak. They should be thoroughly
seasoned and the bark removed. an,
10 get the longest life should be dip
ped in creosote at q temperature o
bout 220 degrees, long enough fol
the preservative to penetrate tn
wood. These posts are best set IL
the spring after the frost is out an,
wher .he ground Is soft on leve
ground they may be driven with
maui. but in depressions should b
anchored down by by 4 cross-piece
spiked on the bottom Of the post be
fore setting. The distance betweei
posts depends on the location Of tn
fence and the numbers and kinds %