42 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



fencing that will answer the only purpose of fences, — that is, to 

 keep loose animals where they belong. 



All that has been said against the inordinate use of fences, does 

 not by any means lessen the importance of making such fences 

 as we do have in the best and most thorough manner. In the 

 first place, boundary fences must be " lawful fences," which have 

 been described, (more forcibly than elegantly,) as *' horse high^ built 

 strong^ and pig tight." 



Mr. Todd* says : 



" Our civil law, in relation to fences, which appears to be 

 " founded on principles of strictest equity, provides that where land 

 " is inclosed, and lies contiguous, and possessed by two different 

 " owners, each must build and maintain a good lawful fence on 

 " one-half the distance of the entire line between their land. 

 *' According to law, A may not build his half of the fence exactly 

 " on the line, neither may B, but each must erect his fence on 

 " his own land as near to the line as he desires, but neighbors 

 " usually erect their fences exactly on the line. * * * * * 



" If A refuses to build or maintain one equal half of a line 

 *■'■ fence between his land and the land owned by B, by giving A 

 '' thirty days' legal notice that he must build or repair his line 

 " fence, and A neglects to do so, B may build or repair such 

 " fence and collect of A the expense of building, the same as for 

 " any other indebtedness. 



" If A has land not inclosed, or ' open to the commons,' which 

 " lies contiguous to the land of B, if B desires to have his land 

 " inclosed, he must build all the fence between them. If A should 

 " then inclose his, he cannot hold one-half of the line fence. 

 *' He must allow B to remove one-half of the fence, and he (A) 

 " must build a fence in the room of it, or he may purchase one- 

 " half of it. If he refuses to do either, B, the owner of the 

 " fence, may prosecute A, and recover pay for half of the line 

 " fence. 



" B may not, in a fit of resentment or frenzy, remove his 

 " division fence, and throw open his own fields to the commons 



* Young Farmers' Manual, vol. i., page 285. 



