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matter of congratulation, especially from those States, as 

 also to the United States, still holding portions, to know 

 that such lands can now be inclosed with one-fourth the 

 expense of a Virginia fence. Where a section of 640 

 acres is inclosed, it may be done at a cost not exceeding 

 forty cents per acre, where the labor and materials are 

 all purchased. The fence now recommended is com- 

 posed of a ditch and embankment of three feet high, or a 

 fence three feet high on the top of the embankment. The 

 hedge fence so much commended in Europe, will not an- 

 swer for the prairies, as the weeds grow up with the hedge, 

 and thus furnish much fuel to consume the hedge in its 

 earlier growth, or even in its more matured condition ; 

 and this will be the case until general cultivation pro- 

 tects the prairie from annual fires. The ditch, too, of 

 itself alone, is a poor defence against the effect of frost, 

 and the attacks of cattle. A combination of the two 

 seems to offer all the advantages of both, as the soil is 

 drained by the ditch, and the same forms in part the fence, 

 thus saving much timber. 



It requires 26,500 rails to inclose a section of land with 

 the Virginia panel equal to eight rails, stake and rider, 

 whereas, it takes only three rails for a panel on the plan 

 of the ditch and embankment ; nor is this all., the rails on 

 the embankment need not be over one half the size of 

 those in a Virginia or worm fence. The great saving 

 will be apparent when we reflect, that four panels of 

 Virginia fence are equal in distance to three panels of 

 fence made straight. Three rails on the embankment are 

 sufficient. Hence, nine rails on the latter plan are equal 

 to forty on the former one ; and when the difference in 

 the size are taken into consideration, the proportion will 

 not be over four and a half to forty, making a saving in 

 timber, carting and hauling, etc. almost incredible. In 

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