84 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



during the summer after a heavy rain when the ground is 

 thoroughly wet. Tlie wire may be nailed on at any time. 



Many times the foregoing method of fence construction 

 cannot be used. It is then necessary to dig holes. Many 

 kinds of post-hole diggers are available. A post sharp at the 

 bottom will not heave out as readily by winter freezes, and 

 can be pounded back more easily than one that is sawed 

 square. 



Post Timber. — In The Country Gentleman of March 6, 1915, 

 Edmund Secrest says: 



"Almost every property owner, whether in the city or in the country, 

 uses at some time a certain quantity of post material. . . . Few of 

 our native timber trees make durable posts and it is a waste of time and 

 material to use white elm, maple, beech, ash, pine, spruce and the red 

 and black oaks for this purpose, unless the wood is treated with preserva- 

 tives; and this is impracticable unless a considerable quantity is used. 

 Untreated the wood of these trees lasts only a few years in the ground. 



''Examination of some 30,000 fence posts by an institution with which 

 the writer is connected has disclosed some interesting facts in connection 



with the problems The osage orange or common hedge was 



shown to possess more durability than any other timber examined. 

 Posts that had been planted for thirty or forty years showed only a small 

 percentage slightly decayed. The osage post is without a peer for dura- 

 bihty and strength. Small poles no larger than 2 inches in diameter will 

 last for years in the ground and no better vine or garden stakes can 

 be found. 



"The black or yellow locust ranks second to the osage as a post timber. 

 This tree grows much faster than the osage and it is the most practicable 

 fence post because it is more easily obtained in larger sizes. The black 

 locust grows quite commonly throughout the Eastern and Central States. 



"The red cedar — third in point of durability — is quite limited in some 

 sections of the country and is not commonly on the market. The wood is 

 light and strong, but expensive. It makes good arbor poles, because 

 the trees are usually straight and the posts in consequence are of a 

 quality to be preferred for this use. 



"The mulberry ranks almost with the red cedar in durability but the 

 trees are inclined to grow crooked and scraggly, frequently giving the 

 posts poor form. Moreover, mulberry is not plentiful and the posts 

 are rarely on the market. The wood, however, is recommended for its 

 durable qualities. 



"White cedar or arbor-vitae posts are much used and are fairly durable. 

 They are supplied from the swamps of the Lake States and are shipped 

 to many parts of the country. Like the red cedar they are well adapted 

 for arbor purposes, but they decay sooner than the red cedar. White 

 cedar posts have a common defect — heart rot. This rot does not mate- 



