SECRETARY'S REPORT. 195 



als, the fences must be built of such as are most easily obtained, 

 and this can also be regulated by each person. In some places 

 stone can be used, in others, cedar, and in many localities ash, 

 maple, poplar, or hemlock sawed into boards, are used to good 

 advantage. 2d. Farmers build too much poor temporary, or good- 

 for-nothing fence ; and this statement is proved by the abundance 

 of fence of this description to be found in the county. The habit 

 of building poor fence begins with farmers when they first com- 

 mence the work of clearing land. They are then obliged to erect 

 fences of any available material — usuall}'- of timber or logs of old 

 growth — and the manner of building is that which can be done in 

 the shortest time, and at the least expense. This log fence forms 

 a foundation which is repaired each season, and as farmers in a 

 new settlement have much to accomplish in the way of making 

 improvements, the habit of mending up old fences is formed, and 

 the plan of making new ones neglected. In some sections of the 

 county, even in old towns a considerable amount of this log fence 

 is yet to be met with. This leads me to the last suggestion, 

 which is : 3d, that it should be a principle with all farmers to build 

 Bome new and permanent fence of durable material, each year. 

 Greater improvement is not wanted in any of the manifold farm 

 operations than in building fence ; and perhaps nothing more plainly 

 shows improvement than this. 



In Somerset county there is every kind of fence, and almost 

 every kind of material used for fencing. There is good fence and 

 poor fence ; fence which has been standing for half a century, and 

 that newly buflt ; fence of posts and rails, and fence made of rails, 

 stakes and bunks ; stone wall, board fence, wire fence, and in 

 many places no fence. Through the northern and eastern portion 

 of the county where cedar is plenty, there is an abundance of 

 morticed, or post and rail fence ; and there is no better fence built 

 than that erected of this material. In the older settled towns some 

 of this kind of fence is seen, but it is generally of long standing, 

 and the present high price of cedar makes it necessary for farmers 

 making new fences to build of some other material. In situations 

 where stones are found — particularly upon high ridges of land, 

 they are made into wall, thus clearing them from fields, and form- 

 ing a permanent and good fence. Board fence is more common 

 than wire, although both are made, and the latter is being some- 

 what generally adopted, and notwithstanding the objections urged 

 against it, is coming into favor. 



