112 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



THE BEST METHOD OF FENCING A FAEM. 



Editors Genesee Farmer: — The question of the 

 relative'amount of division fence necessary on a farm, 

 may be passed with little more than the general re- 

 mark, that as much only should be made as the most 

 judicious arrangement and farm management require, 

 for the obvious reason that more would be a wasie 

 of land, labor, and means. It is plain that the amount 

 required must vary according to the particular branch 

 or branches of farming pursued. A farm, every acre 

 of which will produce from thirty to forty bushels of 

 prime wheat every two years, w^ill be cultivated in 

 wheat and clover exclusively, (the last to be plowed 

 under,) will require but little division fence. When 

 it is desirable to cultivate most kinds of grain, as well 

 as rear and keep most kinds of stock on the same 

 farm, much more is necessary. Between these ex- 

 tremes will be ranged all other grades of farming af- 

 fecting this question. In all cases the above general 

 rule should be adhered to; for a great amount of di- 

 vision fence is maintained throughout the country at 

 an immense yearly expense, which is neither necessary 

 nor convenient. 



But the kind of fence best suited to general use, 

 18 the question sought to be determined. It may be 

 remarked here, that no one method can be devised 

 which shall be the best adapted to all cases, for it is 

 evident that the best mode of fencing any particular 

 farm, must depend upon its available resources for 

 lencing materials — not necessary or valuable for other 

 purposes. 



The Common Worm Fe.nxe. — Some kinds of fence, 

 long in common use, are so well known that they need 

 only be mentioned to make apparent their compara- 

 tive value. Such, perhaps, is the common rail, or 

 worm fence. This, in countries covered with suitable 

 timber, must always be the fence of the pioneer, (v.'hat- 

 ever may be its defects,) as it is almost the only avail- 

 able one of any value. This fence, once upon a farm, 

 will of course remain until it decays, and the timber 

 to replace it is exhausted or become too valuable, 

 when other kinds less objectionable and of more per- 

 manent value will be sought. 



Stone Walls. — This may be had in properly con- 

 Btructed stone walls, which is conceded to be the best 

 fence known. This is vatuable for its durability and 

 the little land occupied. The first cost is not great, 

 when it is considered that the cost of laying the wall 

 only, is justly charged to the account of the fence; 

 clearing the fields of stone being necessary, were no 

 fence required. Where there are materials for this$^ 

 none belter need be sought. 



Board Fence. — A very neat, and not expensive 

 fence is made of posts and boards. Let durable posts 

 and boards, sixteen feet long, and a full inch in thick- 

 ness be procured. The bottom board may be from 

 ten to twelve, and the other two from six to eight 

 inches wide. The length is completed by a three-by- 

 four scantlmg being spiked firmly to the top of the 

 posts. Three boards and a scantling, with spaces 

 properly arranged, makitig a strong fence four feet 

 high, with about fifty feet of lumber per rod, exclu- 

 give of the posts. Any one may easily calculate the 

 cost of such a fence, v;hich will vary with the cost of 

 lumber in the locality. 



Wire Fence. — Wire fence, ha.s so far, proved un- 

 satisfactory in the experience of most who have tried 

 it It has some qualities to recommend it, bat there 



are serious, if not insurmountable objections to it. — • 

 Beside the difficulty of guarding against the temper- 

 ature, it is expensive, easily gets out of repair, i^ not 

 claimed to be the most durable, and is not an effect- 

 ive fence. Such being the general verdict in regard 

 to this kind of fence, it cannot be recommended for 

 general use. The above kind of board fence is pr&- 

 fered, where suitable lumber can be had at any thing 

 under extreme rates. The Lowell Pannel Wire fence 

 is less objectionable, but the objections from tempe- 

 rature and cost lie against it with equal weight. 



Hedges. — The next and last kind of fence I shall 

 mention, is the hedge. This is a cheap, durable, 

 beautiful, and most effective fence. The main ob- 

 fections to it are, liability to injury by mice under the 

 snows of winter in northern latitudes, and the great 

 amount of land necessarily occupied by it. The first 

 it is confidently believed will be remedied, if not in 

 the manner of construction, yet by the use of hedge 

 plants only which mice will not attack. A supply of 

 these may be had, it is believed, in all respects suited 

 to hedging purposes. Several kinds' of these have 

 to some extent been tested. Among these are the 

 Buckthorn, Newcastle thorn, and the whole family 

 of evergreens. The thorns mentioned grow rapidly, 

 making a strong fence in four or five years. Among 

 the evergreens, the Norway Spruce and Norway Fir, 

 are said to be of equally rapid growth, and to make, 

 in all respects, a desirable hedge. An evergreen hedge 

 is always beautiful, and by allowing a high growth, 

 is also a good protection from the wind. 



The second oVyection, it must be admitted, is of 

 some weight in localities where land is very valuable. 

 But I doubt not that it could be successfnlly shown, 

 and allow its opponents their most extravagant claims 

 as to the amount and value of the land occupied, that, 

 in the end, (except stone wall,) it is the cheapest and 

 best fence known. Most other kinds .subject the far- 

 mer to constant expense for repairs and losses, becansB 

 they are imperfect, and to the cost of a periodical re- 

 construction, and all this to be repeated as time pro- 

 gresses, without limit. It is therefore claimed that 

 when its light cost and after expense, its perfect effect- 

 iveness and everla.sting durability are considered, this 

 will be apparent. 



I would, therefore, bring to the notice of farmers a 

 hedge constructed after the following plan. Where 

 it is desirable to have a permanent fence,let the ground 

 be deeply plowed, and a compost of swamp muck, 

 leaves, ashes and barnyard maimre be well worked in. 

 Draw a line for a guide in setting your quicks, that 

 your hedge may be perfectly straight. Set your quicks 

 in a line, from six to twenty-four inches apart, accord-" 

 ing to the hedge plant used. Quicks should be of two 

 years growth in the nurseiy. Cut them off twenty 

 inches from the ground. Keep the soil, for a few feet 

 on each side, mellow and clear of weeds, which is all 

 that is required the first year. Ascertain if any have 

 failed to grow, and replace such with vigorous onea 

 from the nursery. Then draw a line two feet from the' 

 hedge and parallel with it on the side where an open 

 drain would be most useful. (Let division fence be 

 located with reference to the efiiciency of these drains, 

 so far as can be done without detriment to the ordei;* 

 beauty and convenience of the arrangement of the' 

 fields.) Along this line open a ditch four feet wide 

 on the top, .six inches wide on the bottom, and two 

 feet deep. Let the earth removed fiom the ditch b« 

 thrown around your Ledge, raising a bed twenty 



