66 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



and me. The men who cut the posts took the 

 job of setting them, stretching the wire, and 

 hanging the gates, for $400. This included the 

 staples and also the stretching of three strands 

 of barbed wire above the woven wire ; two at 

 six-inch intervals on the outside, and one inside, 

 level with the top of the post. Thus my ring 

 fence was six feet high and hard to climb. I 

 have a serious dislike for trespass, from either 

 man or beast, and my boundary fence was made 

 to discourage trespassers. I like to have those 

 who enter my property do so by the ways pro- 

 vided, for " whoso climbeth up any other way, 

 the same is a thief and a robber." 



The ring fence was finished by the middle of 

 October. The interior fences were built by my 

 own men during soft weather in winter and 

 spring ; and, as I had already paid for the wire 

 and posts, nothing more should be charged to 

 the fence account. In round numbers these 

 seven miles of excellent fence cost me $2100. 

 A lot of money ! But the fence is there to-day 

 as serviceable as when it was set, and it will 

 stand for twice seven years more. One hundred 

 dollars a year is not a great price to pay for the 

 security and seclusion which a good fence fur- 

 nishes. There was no need of putting up so 

 much interior fence. I would save a mile or 

 two if I had it to do again ; however, I do 

 not dislike my straight lanes and tightly fenced 

 fields. 



