FARM FENCING. 39 



Grow Live Fence Posts. These would not be suitable 

 for all localities, as in places the shade would be objectionable, 

 but some such lines of trees might be grown on every farm, and 

 even though they occupy some land, they will grow into valu- 

 able timber, and will also make wind-breaks which will protect 

 the crops and stock. I find on my limestone soil that the com- 

 mon black locust (called also yellow) is the best tree for this 

 purpose. I planted a row fifty rods long in 1879, and as the 

 Spring was very dry and unfavorable, and they made a poor 

 growth, I cut them back to the ground in 1880. In the Spring 

 of 1883 they were large enough to support panels of fence, 

 but as we had one of the neglected hedges which I recommend, 

 we cut it back and made a fence of the brush by laying one row 

 along the row of locust trees, and another row on top of this 

 with the brush locked between the trees, which were four feet 

 apart. The labor of cutting and placing the brush cost us just 

 four dollars, or eight cents a rod, for our line of fifty rods. I 

 know this is not a handsome fence, but it is effective and will 

 last for years by the addition of a few more brush. 



When you use the row of trees to support panels of board 

 fence, you do not nail them to the trees, as this would injure 

 them, and the swaying of the trees in the wind would break the 

 nails. Nail your boards to oak or some other good timber to 

 hold nails, and then set the panels up along the row of trees, 

 drive a stake to keep the bottom in place, and secure the top by 

 a piece of cheap rope, tarred twine, or wire. These ties will 

 need inspecting annually, so as to see that they do not get tight 

 and girdle the trees. If I was planting a row of locust trees 

 again for this purpose, I would start them only two feet apart, 

 and then would cut out for bean poles and fence stakes such as 

 I did not wish to leave. In making these movable panels of 

 fence, I nail the boards to oak two inches square, and find it 

 strong enough. I do not call this a handsome fence, but every 

 good locust post, well set, costs me thirty cents, and in twenty- 

 five years will probably be past its usefulness. The tree and 

 oak upright will not both cost above eight cents, and in twenty- 

 five years the trees will sell for enough to build several new 



