24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



rially changed for the better with a very great saving of cost and 

 labor to the farmer. 



If (as stated in the Secretary's report for 1859, page 217, in a 

 communication from Mr. Chamberlain on the subject of soiling,) 

 the cost of fences in Maine is twenty -five millions of dollars, and 

 the changes and repairs amount annually to ten per cent, on the 

 cost, then we have for changes and repairs two millions five hun- 

 dred thousand dollars, and the interest at six per cent, annually on 

 the cost is one million five hundred thousand dollars. And allow- 

 ing wooden fences to last twenty years, we find a twentieth part 

 of the first cost to be one million two hundred and fifty thousand 

 dollars, which shows an annual expense to the farmers of Maine of 

 five millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Recapitulated 

 as follows : 



10 per cent, on first cost for changes and repairs annu- 

 ally, is $2,500,000 

 6 per cent, for interest on same, 1,500,000 

 First cost divided by 20, (years of duration,) 1,250,000 



Total annual expense of fencing, $5,250,000 



Your committee concur in the remarks of that communication to 

 which we have referred on interior fences to which they are con- 

 fined ; and beg leave to call the attention of the Board particularly 

 to road fencing. 



Assuming the road fences to cost one-eighth part of the whole, 

 and we have three millions one hundred and twenty-five thousand 

 dollars. Allowing twelve per cent, to cover the annual interest 

 and repairs, and we have three hundred and seventy-five tliousand 

 dollars as a tax per year (exclusive of buikling the fence) for the 

 privilege of pasturing the highway or common. And if this fence 

 has to be renewed once in twenty years we may add one twentieth 

 of the cost of building as loss, and we have a yearly tax of $531,- 

 250 for the encouragement of one of the greatest nuisances the 

 farmer has to endure, that of always having a drove of hungry cat- 

 tle watching for a chance whenever his gate is open or bars down 

 to step into his garden, or yard, and destroy some choice trees, or 

 into his corn-field, while he is left to the alternative to leave a load 

 of hay to get wet with a shower close upon him, and go and drive 

 them out and close the entrance, or leave them to take care of the 

 corn, wliile he secures the hay. 



Then there is an additional yearly tax, which from any calcula- 



