FENCES. 283 



The striped snake is a harmless object about the farm 

 premises, and like the toad, he is also a great gormandiser ol 

 worms and insects. The sole drawback to his merits, arises 

 from his frequently feasting on the toad and frog. The 

 black snake is sometimes destructive to young poultry, 

 and he is a fierce and formidable foe to all whom his 

 courage induces him to attack. He charms the old birds 

 and robs their nests both of eggs and young ; but his con- 

 sumption of superfluous squirrels and field mice, perhaps, fully 

 atones for his own delinquencies. 



FENCES. 



In many countries which have long been under cultivation, 

 with a dense population and little timber, as in China and 

 other parts of Asia, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and 

 other parts of Europe, fences are seldom seen. In certain 

 sections of the older settled portions of the New England 

 States, a similar arrangement prevails. This is universally 

 the case over the wide intervals or bottom lands which 

 skirt the banks of the Connecticut River, where periodical 

 inundations would annually sweep them away. Wherever 

 this system is adopted, cultivation proceeds without obstruc- 

 tion, and a great saving is made not only in their original 

 cost, but in the interest, repairs and renewal ; all the land is 

 available for crops ; no weeds or bushes are permitted to hide 

 their annoying roots and scatter their seeds over the ground ; 

 no secure harbors are made for mice, rats or other vermin ; 

 the trouble and expense of keeping up bars or gates are 

 avoided ; and a free course is allowed by the conceded roads 

 or by-paths, for the removal of the crops, carrying on ma- 

 nures, and the necessary passing to and fro in their cultiva- 

 tion. These are important advantages, which it would be 

 well for every community to consider, and secure to the full 

 extent of their circumstances. 



The inconveniences of this arrangement are trifling. 

 When cattle or sheep are pastured where fences are wanting, 

 they are placed under the guidance of a shepherd, who with 

 the aid of a well-trained dog, will keep a large herd of ani- 

 mals in perfect subjection within the prescribed limits. In 

 the unfenced parts of the Connecticut valley (where exten- 

 sive legislative powers reside in the separate towns, which 

 enables each to adopt such regulations as best comport with 

 their own interests), no animals are permitted to go upon 

 the unfenced fields till autumn ; and the crops are required 



