248 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



against all animals ; a great saving of laud ; giving no shelter for 

 briars and nettles ; proof against high winds ; makes no snow drifts ; 

 durable and cheapest among materials." 



In 1849 The Plough, Loom and Anvil, of Philadelphia, sharing in 

 the discussion of the period, uttered thiswise and far-seeing opinion, 

 that "setting aside merits, the demand for wood fences would 

 increase the x>rice, xohile the demand for tuire fence xuill diminish the 

 price, as the greater the demand for wire the cheaper it can be 

 made." This was speedily realized, and has remained true in the 

 histor}' of wire manufacture. 



When the settlement of the prairie and treeless States of the West 

 of thirtj' years ago began, wire was of necessit}' a principal resort. 

 It is estimated that one hundred and fifty thousand miles of plain 

 wire fences were built in the period between 1850 and 1870 in 

 America and Australia. But plain wire was never a successful 

 fence until the addition of the sharp, prickly Barb, the invention of 

 an Illiuois farmer in 1874. 



That Barb Wire has met the demand of farmers is attested b}' its 

 extensive adoption. That its most characteristic and first challenged 

 feature, the sharp, keen barb, has not justified the . fears and prej- 

 udices with which it was received in an age remarkable in its humane 

 regard for the brute creation, is shown hy the fact that it is to-day 

 a legal fence in all parts of the United States. 



The reasons for the adoption of Barb Wire are briefl}' told. 



1. It is cheap. Even where the landowner owns both the 

 timbered land and the saw mill adjacent, lie can build a Barb Wire 

 fence more cheaply than he can get out and l)uild fences with the 

 boards from trees that cost him nothing but the labor. 



2. It is everywhere available. The material for sixty rods of 

 fencing occupies about the same space and has the weight of 

 a barrel of flour. The farmer's team can carry anywhere in one 

 load the fencing required for his largest field. One car-load will 

 build twenty miles of good fence. 



3. It is a secure fence. Cattle instantly respect it. 



4. It occxipies' and shades no soil. It makes no snow-drifts in 

 field borders or roadways. In this latter respect it is in numerous 

 instances being adopted in New England towns by the local authori- 

 ties who, in roadways of especial winter exposure, are furnishing to 

 the farmer Barb AVire at town cost to replace his old fences. This 

 cannot be a light consideration in Maine, where, according to the 



