398 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 

 Mr. Robinson's Tour. — No. 21. 



[New York American Agricrdturist, 9:289-90; Sep., 1850] 



[July ?, 1850] 



Virginia Fencing. — This term is generally understood 

 to mean a crooked or worm fence, of split rails. But in 

 some parts of the state, that kind of fence is least com- 

 mon. I noticed in Gloucester county a very good kind 

 that may well be imitated elsewhere. It is made with 

 alternate long and short pannels, of lengths of five and 

 ten feet, six and twelve feet, and three and ten or twelve. 

 I like the last best. It makes a fence so near straight 

 that it takes up but little room, which is a consideration 

 too much lost sight of in good lands. 



This fence may be staked and ridered, or staked and 

 capped, if necessary. It is most commonly built upon a 

 bank, as, in fact, are nearly all the fences upon the "low 

 lands" in that and adjoining counties and in the Rappa- 

 hannock Valley, upon the west side of the river, particu- 

 larly. This ditching and banking for fence may be very 

 well upon wet lands, but it is often carried to extremes. 

 I have often seen it six or eight feet, and even higher, 

 with sometimes no rails on top, and then it is no fence. 

 Sometimes three or four rails, and then it is about half 

 a fence, and sometimes eight or ten rails, and then it is 

 a good fence; and so it would be if there were no ditch 

 and bank. Where cedar grows, instead of rails, brush is 

 often used, wattled together between stakes and makes a 

 good, durable fence. It will last, with slight repairs, 20 

 years, if the stakes are of cedar or chestnut, both of 

 which abound in Lower Virginia. 



Another kind of wattle fence is made of poles, the 

 stakes being set eight or ten feet apart. There are a few 

 hedges made chiefly of cedar, and is generally a pretty 

 good fence against cattle, except where the trees die, as 

 is often the case, but no barrier against hogs, which 

 iilthy bmites are still permitted to run in the roads, not- 

 withstanding the great advancement mankind have made 

 in civilisation. 



