WIRE 



CHAPTER XXII 



WITH the cutting up of large estates, the 

 purchase of farms by tenants, and the 

 increase of small holdings, wire has made 

 its appearance in the hunting field where here- 

 tofore it was unknown. That the wire question 

 is a serious one in many countries, there is no 

 use denying, yet the evil can be done away with 

 or at any rate mitigated by tactful negotiations 

 with the farmer. 



The reason wire is substituted for rails or pro- 

 perly laid fences, is because the incomes of both 

 landlord and tenant have depreciated, thus the 

 former is obliged to sell his timber while the latter 

 cannot afford the requisite labour to keep his 

 fences stock-proof. The tenant therefore turns 

 to wire as affording more or less permanent pro- 

 tection, and requiring comparatively little atten- 

 tion, although the initial outlay in material is 

 somewhat greater. It is of course very easy to 

 condemn a man for resorting to wire, yet it should 

 be remembered that money is " tight," stock will 

 escape, not only causing damage but bad feelmg 

 between neighbours, therefore the farmer has but 

 little choice in the matter. Wire difficulties are 

 met and to a greater or less extent overcome 

 by the wire fund which provides money to cover 

 the expense of removing wire at the beginning 

 of the season, and replacing it again at the end. 

 Rails too are supplied by hunting landlords 



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