THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 119 



but when a wire two-thirds smaller, which costs only two-thirds 

 as much, will subserve the same purpose as a larger one, the small 

 one is to be preferred. There is no propriety whatever in using 

 No. 3 or No. 4 wire in building ordinary fences. Wire of such a 

 size would hold to draw out all the posts to which it might be 

 attached, without breaking. Hitch a span of horses to one end, 

 and let us see if, by fair drawing, they can separate it. By no 

 means, if there are no flaws in it. There can be no consistency 

 in using wire for fences which will resist three or four times as 

 much as the posts to which they are attached. It is much better, 

 and more economical also, to use a larger number of wires of a 

 medium size, than to use a few very large ones. Wire should 

 be strong enough to resist the force of the animals which it is 

 designed to fence against. For fencing against small, peaceable 

 animals, like sheep, No. 12 or 13 wire is sufficiently large and 

 strong ; and for horned cattle and horses, No. 9 will turn any 

 thing that wears horns ; and any animal that will thrust 

 into a fence, when it is properly made, with force enough 

 to break a sound No. 1 1 wire, should not have liberty in an 

 open field. 



146. The manner of fastening the wires to the posts is a very 

 important consideration. Bending the wires around sharp cor 

 ners of the posts should always be avoided, as wires are very 

 liable to break when drawn tightly across a sharp corner. The 

 ends of the wires may be fastened to the end post of the fence, 

 by being passed entirely around it, after the corners have been 

 rounded off a little ; or they may be put through the post in a 

 half-inch hole, and the ends of two of them twisted together; or, 

 after the ends have been put through the post, they may be 

 wrapped round a rod of wood, and the ends twisted round the 

 same wire ; or the ends, after having been put through the post, 

 may be turned into holes in the post, and plugged up tightly 

 with a hard wood plug. The wires may be fastened to the inter 

 mediate posts by driving staples over them, or by sawing gains 

 in the sides of the posts for the wires, and nailing a strip of hard 

 wood on every post, to keep the wires in the gains, or gashes. 



