26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tresj^ass by his beast, as by himself; or why he should be compelled 

 to build walls to protect his property against spoliations of cattle, 

 any more than against the owner, who could not avail himself of 

 the plea against theft or trespass, that the door was too weak, the 

 lock insufficient, or the walls too low. 



We cheerfully concur in the remarks on this subject, expressed 

 in a meeting of the American Institute Farmer's Club at New York, 

 November 14th, 1859. Mr. Joseph Blunt said: 'The farmers in 

 this country were formed and educated under the system of fences ; 

 a system founded upon the notion, that a man is bound to protect 

 his property by fencing out the world ; that the law has no power ; 

 that a general respect for the rights of property has no existence ; 

 but that you must fence out all intruders, and guard your property 

 with walls and fences, if you desire to enjoy it as your own. * * * 

 The whole system is founded upon an erroneous notion. The law 

 does protect a man's property. His real estate and its products 

 are his, and they lie under the protection of the law, whether 

 fenced or unfenced. * * * ^ man has no greater right to bring 

 up his cattle in dishonest practices than he has to educate his family 

 by theft. But many seem to think that cattle may be brought up 

 to habits of theft and trespass without any legal responsibility, and 

 that they may be turned out by day or night to prowl round on the 

 highway, to watch for an opportunity to slip in at open gates, or 

 open them for themselves, and then with their native instincts and 

 their master's principles, making your carefully-nurtured domestic 

 institutions unfit for your enjoyment. This is unsound reasoning, 

 and the sooner it is corrected tlic bettor it will be for the farming 

 community.' 



In conclusion, we recommend to the farmers of Maine to figure 

 up the cost of their fences ; add the annual expense and interest on 

 the same, consider the inconveniences they sufl'er in consequence 

 of the system as it now is, and see whether or not, it may be 

 changed for the better by saving expense and improving appear- 

 ances. 



The question will undoubtedly arise in the mind : IIow shall a 

 change be brought about ? So far as it regards road fences, in any 

 town or neighborhood where a half dozen men can be found who 

 'know their rights and dare maintain them,' who will throw down 

 their road fences and enforce the law when actually necessary, they 

 will soon effect a change, do the community around them an essen- 



