Year: 1870

| deem the subject Of such Importance that i
choose 10 discuss it directly Excessive Fencing ia
peculiarly an American abuse, which urgently cries
| for reform.


Solon Robinson says the fence-tax is the heaviest
Of farmers taxes add that it is the most need
less and indefensible.


Highways we must have, and people must traverse
them; but this gives them right TO trample down
otherwise injure the crops growing either side
In France and other parts of Europe, you grass
and grain growing luxuIianty up TO the very edge
of the beaten track with nothing like a fence
between them. Yet those crops are nowise injured
OF disturbed by wayfarers. Whoever chooses to i'm
pei animals along those roads must take care to have
them completely under subjection, and must see
that they do no harm TO whatever grows by theway
side.


In this country cattle-driving except on a small
scale and for short distances. has nearly been super
seded by railroads. The great droves formerly
reaching the Atlantic seaboard on foot, from Ohio
or further West are now huddled into cars and hur
red through in far less time and with less waste of


flesh but they reach us feyered, bruised. and every
way unwholesome. Every animal should be turned
out TO grass after railroad journey of more than
twelve hours and left there full month before he
| is taken to the slaughter-pen. We must have many
more deaths per annum in this city, than If the ami



| which rendered them fit for human food.
| Ultimately. our fresh Beef Mutton and Pork, will
come to us from the Prairies in refrgerating cars
each animal having been killed while in perfect
| health, unfevered and untOrtured by days Of
cramped CALLED and thirsty suffering, on the cars
This will leave their offal, including a large portion
of their bones 70 enrich the fields whence their
! tenance was drawn and from which it should never
be taken. The cost of transporting the meat, hides
and tallow in such cars would be less than that OF
| bringing through the animals their legs; while
| the danger Of putrefaction might be utterly pre-
| cluded.


But to return to Fencing:


Our growing plants must he preserved from AMI
nal ravsge but it is most unjust TO impose the cost
of this protection on the growers. Whoever
chooses to or buy animals must take care that
they do not infest and despoil his neighbors. Who
ever sees fit TO turn animals into the street should
send some one with them who will be TO keep
them out Of mischief which browsing young trees
in forest clearly is


If the inhabitants of a settlement or village sur
rounded by open prairie see lit to pasture their cat
tie thereon they should send them out each morning
in the keeping of well-mOunted herdsman, whose
duty should be summed up in keeping them from
evil-dong by day and bringing them safely back TO
their yard OF yards at nightfall


Fencing bears with special severity on the pio
neer-class who are least able TO afford the outlay
The clearing" of the pioneers first year In the
wilderress, being enlarged by AK and tire, needs a
new and far longer environment next year. ana 80
through subsequent years until clearing at end
| Many pioneer is thus impelled TO devote large
share of his time to Fencing and yet his crops often
come TO grief through the depredations of his own
| or his neighbOrs' breechy cattle


| ,....s nr,dnca not1,iny but unvaIcoIna I'm 5hes
briars and weeds SO far as they may be necessary,
they are a deporable necessity. When constructed
where they are not really needed they evince costly
folly / think could point out farms which would
not sell to-day for the cost of rebuilding their present
fences.


We cannot make open drains or bitches serve for
fences in this country they sometimes do IN mder
and moro eduable climates because severe frosts
would heave and crumbe their banks If nearly per-
pendicuar soping them at length IN places 30 that
animals might cross them at leisure. Nor have We
30 far north this CITY, had much success with
hedges. for like reason. There is scarcely hedge
plant II once efficient in stopping animals and so
hardy as to defy the severity. rather the caprice
of our Winters / scarcely know hedge which Is
not either inefficient or too costly for the average
farmer; and then hedge is a fixture, whereas we
often need 10 move OF demOlish our fences.


Wire Fences are least obnoxious 20 this objection
they are very easily removed but a careless teams
ter stupid animal. a clumsy friend, easily
makes a breach in one. which Is not 40 easily re-
paired OF the few Wire Fences within my knowl-
edge hardly one has remained entire and efficient
after standing two or three years


Stone Walls. well built on raised foundations of
dry earth are enduring and quite effective. but very
costly My best have cost me at least % per rod
though the raw material was abundant and accessi-
BILE doubt that any good wall Is built, with labor
at present prices for less than 50 per rod Perhaps
should account this cOsliness merit, since 1t must
impe farmers to study how TO make few fences serve
their turn


Rail Fences will he constructed only where lumber
is very abundant, of little value, and easily spit
Whenever the burning of timber TO be nd OF 1t has
ceased there the making of rail fences must be near
it's end.


Where fences must still be maintained, apprehend
that posts and boards are the cheapest material
Though Pine lumber grows dear. Hemiock sun
sbounds and the rapid destruction Of trees for their
bark to be used In tanning must give us cheap heih
lock boards throughout many ensuing years Spruce
Tamarsck and other evergreens from our Northern
swamps will come into play after HemlOek shall have
been exhausted


As for posts Red Cedar is general favorite; and
this tree seems TO be rapidly multiplying hereabout
I indigo that farmers who have it not, might wisely
order it from a nursery and give 1t an experimental
trial 1t Is hardy; 1t is clean; IT makes but NIUE
shade; and it seeIss to fear insect whatever III
fiourishes on rocky thin soils; and grove OF IL s
pleasant to the sight-et least, to mine
Locust is more widely known and esteemed; but
the borer has proved destructive to II on very many
farms though not mine. like 1t well. and mean
to multiply it extensively by drilling the seed in
FlaNaff "a l.