486 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOBD. 



It was found that " the large farm requires proportionately less fence than 

 the small one, and the ratio of fence required to the acre decreases in propor- 

 tion to the increase in size of farm up to a certain limit. Stone, hedge, and 

 the different types of wooden fences were desirable at the time they were first 

 built, but changing economic conditions make them impracticable at the present 

 time, and they are being replaced with wire fencing. 



" The best kind of wire fencing to erect depends on the purpose for which 

 the fence is used. On a farm where mixed types of live stock are kept, a 

 general-purpose woven-wire fabric is needed. If only cattle and horses are to 

 be pastured, a coarser and less expensive woven fence can be used. When 

 fencing is needed to inclose extensive pastures where only cattle or horses are 

 to be kept, the excessive cost of a woven-wire fence would not make its use 

 desirable, for losses to stock by injury on barbed wire would not be large 

 enough to counterbalance the difference In the cost of maintaining the two 

 different kinds of fences. This applies to the extensive farming areas of 

 the West. 



" It is economy to use a hea\T grade of woven-wire fabric. The cost of 

 woven wire is based upon its weight, and a reduction in cost may be obtained 

 by using a style of fencing that has the wires spaced only as close together as 

 is needed to meet the requirements. It is false economy to reduce the first 

 cost of the fence by using a light grade of wire. 



" To get the maximum of service out of a fence it is absolutely necessary 

 that it should be well built. The corner posts must be placed solidly in the 

 ground in such a manner that they can not be heaved by frost or drawn loose 

 by the pull of the fence. The fabric should be strung tightly to the end posts, 

 but it ought not to be tightly stapled to the line posts. It should be fastened 

 fo line posts in such manner that the wires may move in a horizontal direction 

 to take care of the contraction and expansion due to changes in temperature, 

 and to distribute the force of a blow along the fence line so that the strain 

 will not come entirely on any one or two posts or any one point of the wire. 

 A barbed wire should be placed a short distance above the top of the woven 

 %^ire to prevent cattle and horses from crowding it down when reaching over 

 or rubbing against the fence." 



The cost of a gpod general-purpose farm fence constructed from durable 

 materials is estimated as follows: 



First cost : Per rod. 



Line posts ; red cedar, hedge, locust, cement, or steel (1 rod apart)— $0. 280 

 Ends and braces; cedar, hedge, locust, cement, or steel (every 40 



rods) . 125 



Woven wire; 10 strands, 47 in. high, stays 12 in. apart, all No. 9___ . 400 



Barbed wire ; 1 strand placed 4 in. above top of the woven wire . 035 



Staples . 005 



Labor cost of construction .090 



Total .985 



Annual cost of upkeep: 



Repairs, including the cost of keeping the fence row clean . 024 



Interest at 5 per cent on average investment ($0.4675) .023 



Depreciation, estimating that the life of the fence is 22 years . 043 



Total .090 



Interest on the land occupied at the rate of 5 per cent per year : 



108.6 sq. ft. per rod, valued at $125 per acre . 155 



Total annual cost -245 



