SOLON ROBINSON, 1842 357 



And now I again have the pleasure of subscribing 

 myself your old acquaintance and agricultural friend. 

 Lake C. H. la. Dec. 9, 1842. Solon Robinson. 



The Non-Enclosure System. 



Another champion forthcoming. 



By Solon Robinson. 



[Chicago Prairie Farmer, 3:27; Feb., 1843] 



[December 23, 1842] 



In a recent letter from A. B. Allen, editor of the Amer- 

 ican Agriculturist, N. Y. he says: "I intend to take up 

 the subject of prairie fences soon. I go against fencing 

 the prairies in lots — it is the greatest folly conceivable. 

 Dogs, taught for the purpose, can and do effectually 

 guard cattle and sheep; and even hogs in Europe are 

 completely under their control. The only fear in adopt- 

 ing the plan here, is, that there are too many lawless 

 people in our new countries, whom it would be harder 

 to bring under discipline and subjection than the cattle, 

 on introducing so beneficial a measure — still I will give 

 one or two short articles soon. Fencing of any kind is 

 a needless and useless expense, and a most onerous and 

 enormous tax upon the industry of the country, and no 

 doubt is the great stumbling block that deters thousands 

 of poor men, who would make the best of citizens, from 

 settling on the rich prairies of the West." 



This is multum in parvo — and coming from the source 

 it does, is worth much more than twice the amount from 

 you or me. Mr. Allen has probably traveled more in 

 this country and Europe than any other of the prominent 

 agricultural writers of the day. I hope he will tell us 

 some things that he has seen of tending cattle and sheep 

 by shepherds and dogs in the different parts of Europe 

 that he has visited. 



Lake C. H., la., Dec. 23, 1842. 



