AGRICULTURE. 219 



157. Fences. In the matter of fences, the Californian 

 farmer is at a disadvantage, as compared with his Eastern 

 brethren, who usually have timber enough on or near their 

 land to fence it ; but here, in the agricultural districts generally, 

 trees fit for making rails or boards are lacking. Throughout 

 the United States, the system has prevailed of permitting 

 horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs, to run at large, with no right 

 of indemnity for any damage which they might do in culti- 

 vated fields, unless surrounded by a " lawful fence." This 

 may be a good system for the pioneer, who tills little land, and 

 wishes his horses and cattle to have a wide range ; and it was 

 well suited to the pastoral life of the Spanish Californians 

 previous to the American conquest : but it is of doubtful policy 

 as applied to the present condition of atfairs, at least in the 

 principal agricultural valleys, where all the land is under 

 plough. 



According to the Federal Agricultural Report of 1871, 

 California had, in 1870,4,971,504 acres under fence, used 66,- 

 000 miles of fencing ; the cost of the present fencing is $29,- 

 600,000 ; the annual cost of repairs is $1,800,000 ; the annual 

 interest on the cost is $1,770,000 ; the annual interest and 

 repairs together .amount to $3,575,000, and the average cost 

 of new fencing is about $450 per mile. The estimate of $1,770,- 

 000 for the interest on the cost of the fencing is too low, and 

 is based on an allowance of only six per cent, annually ; 

 whereas twelve per cent, is nearer the true figure, making the 

 yearly interest about $3,500,000 : and adding that sum to the 

 repairs we have $5,300,000 as the total annual cost of the 

 fences as they were in 1870. From the agricultural statistics 

 of the Federal census, we find that the gross value of all the 

 farm animals in the State in 1870 was $38,000,000, and if we 

 deduct $8,000,000 for the sheep which are herded, and $10,- 

 000,000 for horses and cows which are never allowed to run 

 about, we have $20,000,000 as the value of the live stock 

 against which fences are necessary. The annual profit on 



