FARM FENCES. 251 



four liundrcd and fifty thousand miles of baili wire fencing, repre- 

 senting that amount of three strand perfect fence. 



This extensive adoption and its everywhere legalized character 

 attests the merits of the new material. 



We shall derive reform from the discussion of the general fence 

 question. We shall do away with many intr^rior fences and road- 

 side fences, whore farmers are willing to take the risk, but we shall 

 not do awa}- with fences. The adoption of Common law as practi- 

 cally the rule in most American communities gives no promise of 

 parting wMth the good and perfect fence. 



W. W. Harris of Cumberland followed the reading of this paper 

 with his experience with barl) wire fence. His farm bordei's on the 

 railroad. Six or seven years ago the railroad compau}- built a wire 

 fence along the road, a part of which was against his pasture. At 

 first he had fears that the stock running in the pasture might get 

 injured by the sharp projecting barbs. He has had, since it was 

 built, probabl}- one hundred and fift}' different cattle pastured against 

 it, and there has been no injury to the stock whatever. Has built 

 the line fence on one side of the farm of this material, and finds it a 

 cheap and effectiual farm fence. It costs but little to put it up and 

 still less to keep it in repair. The posts should be set one rod apart. 

 Fourteen feet of the wire weighs a pound and is sold at nine and one- 

 half cents per pound. Three strands will make an effectual barrier 

 for ordinary animals. Cattle will graze under the wire as far the}- 

 can reach, but they never disturb it. This makes a good portable 

 fence, as it can be easily taken down and moved when desired. 



Secretary Gilbert said a case had been under his observation in 

 Turner for two jears where a pasture was fenced with two strands 

 onl}' of wire fastened upon cedar stakes driven into the ground, and 

 it had proved entireh" safe and reliable. It is also being used in 

 place of poles upon low stone walls, where a single wire is proving 

 entireh' effectual in restraining sheep, colts, and other stock. It is 

 stretched either on stakes set by the wall, or, better still, upon 

 miniature iron posts three-eighths inch in size and about one foot 

 long, set into top stones of the wall about one rod apart. The end of 

 this iron is split and the wire is laid into the opening. This seems 

 to be a cheap and easy solution to the question of restraining sheep 

 in a walled-in pasture. 



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