CHAPTER XXI. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



(T-^j^NDEE this head we shall discuss various matters not 

 coming under either of the previous heads, and shall 

 also insert the opinions of several good authorities upon 

 matters not coming within our own personal knowledge. 



Fences. — We build ten times too many fences. The fences 

 on many thrifty farms are a great tax upon the owner. It is a 

 useless custom. No fences are absolutely required, except the 

 fence aljout the pastures and a few hundred rods of movable fence, 

 that can be set up anywhere at short notice. Highway fences and 

 division fences are an unmitigated nuisance. The great objection 

 to them is their cost, but they also occupy* good land and harbor 

 weeds and briers ; they are in the way in cultivating and harvest- 

 ing our crops; the sooner we stop building them the better. We 

 do not say tear down good new fences; but build no more, except 

 extra liigh and strong ones around the jjastures. But, says one, 

 if the highway fences were down the cattle would destroy the 

 crops. So they would, if allowed to run in the streets. But 

 which can be done with the least trouble or expense, keeping 

 stock in the pasture or keeping millions of dollars worth of 

 fences ? But the law requires that I should build highway and 

 division fences. So it does; but in whose hands is the law? 

 Yours. If the farmers demand that this burdensome system be 

 done away, and more stringent laws passed in regard to restrain- 

 ing stock, it will be done. There are now communities where 

 there are no fences, and we say to the new settlers in the West, 

 and to the impoverished lai^l owners of the South, do not let this 

 burdensome tax be settled upon your industry, but repeat the cry, 

 down with the fences. 



Forest Tree Culture is a matter of vast importance in agri- 

 culture. We have stripped the country of forests, diminishing its 

 productiveness ; and these forests must be in part replaced, 

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