CHAPTER V. 



FENCING. 



This is one of the most important subjects for the 

 Ostrich-farmer. From the day he possesses an Ostrich, 

 he is called upon to use his judgment as to the relative 

 kinds best adapted to the veldt on which he is about to 

 farm, the best suited to his means, and the labour he 

 is able to prociu'c. Before Ostrich-farming began, 

 fencing in South Africa for the use of stock was an 

 unknown thing. Farmers' horses and working cattle 

 had to be let loose when the day's work was over ; 

 and the connnon excuse of a farmer, when he did not 

 keep some appointment until a day or two after the 

 time, was that his horses were lost, whilst half a 

 day or a day being lost at any work through the 

 bullocks strapng was of common occurrence. But 

 now no farmer with any enterprise would dream of 

 farminof without an enclosure for these, even if he 

 had no birds. We have often laughed when we think 

 of our first purchase of wire, and remember the 

 hunt we had all over Grahamstown without finding 

 a bundle, till we came on a merchant who had had 



