ESTHETICS IN AGRICULTURE. 29 



side of the wheel tracks with stones, or for leaving the edge as jagged 

 as possible. I have known them to lop off the branches of over- 

 hanging trees so as to leave on one side slivered stubs a foot long 

 to advertise official incompetency When the roadside is mown or 

 trimmed the rubbish should be raked up and burned or removed — 

 not allowed to remain and rot where it fell, an eyesore and a 

 breeding place for vermin. Some surveyors will strike an axe 

 into small trees and undergrowth near the road, and simply tip 

 them over towards the wall. 



One reason for the neglect of roadsides exists in the front fence 

 which draws a line that is taken too literally as the limit of one's 

 estate. This fence creates a feeling that the roadside is public 

 property, and its care the business of no one in particular. The 

 first objection to a fence is that it is often of unartistic design, out 

 of repair, and unduly conspicuous. How many fences are there 

 in this vicinit}-, or within your knowledge, which are either a 

 loose stone heap, offensive to the eye, harboring weeds, and no 

 restraint to unruly cattle, or else a wooden affair minus a gate 

 or with a few rails gone, so as to be practically worthless for the 

 purposes for which it was designed. 



The second objection to a fence is that, even if of tasteful 

 design and in good repair, it is unnecessary and not worth what 

 it costs. The cost of the fences in the United States is more than 

 the national debt ; in some cases more than the value of the live 

 stock, and in others more than the farm buildings. Farms have 

 been reported as selling for less than the cost of the fences. 



The aesthetic objections to fences are that, in themselves, they 

 have no beaut}', but are continued as a theoretical protection 

 merely, because our fathers or grandfathers thought fences were 

 necessary — just as we frequently have absorbed their political or 

 religious notions. Tlie removal of fences does not lessen any 

 one's real security, and gives an open, airy effect that is very 

 pleasing. A village is particularly improved by a general removal 

 of fences, which transforms a lot of crumped dooryards into one 

 large park, and gives each occupant of a small estate all the satis- 

 faction that could come from living on the most extensive 

 grounds. 



The charming effect of removing farm fences is well illustrated 

 at the Massacliusetts Agricultural College, a place that should be 

 visited by all who are interested in agriculture. It costs nothing 

 to make anj' farm equall}' attractive. 



