194 



It has, however, in this region nearly fulfilled its mission, and accom- 

 plished its destiny, and is fast giving place to more permanent and safe 

 fences. 



Much has been said and written in favor of wire fences, and in some 

 places they have been erected quite extensively, but upon the whole, are 

 at present, rather losing in public estimation. They combine but few 

 of the absolutely necessary qualifications requisite to a good fence. A 

 good wire fence will cost quite as much, or more even, than a good board 

 and post fence, and when made is not near as desirable. A formidable 

 appearance adds one half to the strength of any fence in the eye of an 

 unruly ox or bull, and as a wire fence can claim nothing on that score, 

 it is subjected to the whole strength and force of any animal that may 

 wage war against it. If it is built sufficiently strong to resist all attacks 

 of animals unwittingly or intentionally made, it is, after all, an unthrifty 

 looking affair. To see a farm fenced with wire, in the usual method, 

 strongly reminds one that a commencement had been made — the posts 

 set for a fence — but that the whole thing had failed, and the people had 

 become discouraged with the undertaking and moved away. So long as 

 fences are the order of the day, let us have substantial looking ones, and 

 none of the skeleton apparition fixtures. At the same time a fence should 

 be constructed, as much as possible to harmonize with nature and sur- 

 rounding objects. Our fences, in a great measure, give character and 

 tone to our farms, and in building them we should have an eye to their 

 adaptation to the place and circumstances — that they may not in every 

 instance appear as unsightly excrescences, and especially those adjacent 

 to our buildings. Door yard and garden fences are quite too often the 

 most prominent objects about the grounds — many people seem to think 

 that an elaborate and expensive fence is the "thing needful" of all others 

 to adorn their places — consequently the fence is made to appear as if 

 the whole concern, house, barn, orchard, and even the land itself, were 

 only tributary to it — placed there for its accommodation while the reverse 

 of all this, is what should appear. The fence itself is, and should seem to 

 fee, the adjunct and not the principal — it should appear modest and 

 unpretending — not too high, nor too compact, nor yet too prominent- 

 It should be, and still appear not to be. 



We will merely remark in respect to the kind of fence best adapted to 

 secure the above named object, that some kind of hedge comes the 



