FENCES AND FENCING. 7 



" Ilistory of Fencing." Instead of pursuing the subject — oi* that 

 branch of it — therein named, I have aimed only to give a brief 

 inlroduclion to the general topic, and my " history of fences " will 

 no doubt remind you of Mark Train's lecture on mill-c, in opening 

 vi'hich he said, "The richest part of milk is the cream," and 

 omitted to make any further mention of milk during the lecture. 

 I say I have only intended to introduce the subject. The general 

 topic is not only an important one, but it is a broad one — too broad 

 to be comprehended in one single paper. It was therefore divided 

 into the several branches designated in the programme, and each 

 branch assigned to a different individual. That the subject is of 

 incalculable importance will be made apparent, if you are not 

 alread^T^ cognizant of the fact, as the discussion progresses. 



The cost of supporting the neceasary fences of our farms is im- 

 mense. The cost of supporting what we now have is a still 

 greater tax upon us. It is believed that with us in fences, as with 

 Brigham Young and his followers in matrimony, we are too much 

 fenced. It will be chiimed that the progress we have made has 

 brought us to a time and to a condition wherein all the fences that 

 were once deemed necessary are not now needed ; that we can 

 without serious inconvenience dispense with much of our costly 

 fence and correspondingly reduce the heavy tax in this direction 

 now levied upon us. Yes, more than this, it will be conclusively 

 shown that much of our fence is not only useless, but that it is 

 also a serious burden to us aside from the cost of repairs. These 

 facts, as we believe them to be, will be brought out by those who 

 have the matter in hand. These are matters which claim our most 

 serious attention. Practical farming — the manipulations of the 

 soil and the care of crops, are not all of the important questions 

 which may properly be considered. If we can in any way reduce 

 expenses by reducing the amount of unproductive labor on the 

 farm, we practically increase the productiveness of the farm, and 

 this, too, without any greater draft upon the fertility of the soil. 



