277 



XV. GENERAL ECONOMY OF THE FARM. 



I. ARTIFICIAL DIVISIONS OF THE FARM. 



FENCES in rural economy comprehend in general, every 

 sort of enclosure that is employed for shelter, or designed for 

 the protection of the lands thus enclosed from the intrusion of 

 cattle; they are of different kinds, depending on the various 

 circumstances of soil, situation, the kinds of materials at hand 

 most suitable for the purpose, and the convenience with which 

 they may be obtained. Where a country is entirely in tillage, 

 it is of less importance that farms be divided by artificial bar- 

 riers; but wherever live stock is kept, this is essential to the 

 proper keeping of the animals, and to the profitable occupation 

 of the grounds, besides the purpose of retaining and sepa- 

 rating animals of different kinds from one another. Every 

 person about to erect a fence, should have special regard to 

 three essential points durability, economy, and neatness of 

 appearance. 



"Poor fences are of incalculable mischief to the farmer. " 

 They are frequently the means of disturbing that good neigh- 

 bourhood which would, in many places, otherwise exist with- 

 out interruption, if each farmer would attend to having his 

 fences well and substantially made, and kept constantly in 

 good order and repair. Unless fences are made sufficiently 

 high and strong, there can be no safety to the crops the cat- 

 tle selecting the weakest points, are apt to break over them, 

 and thereby imbibe vicious habits. 



The description of fences and the method of their construc- 

 tion, depends wholly upon the soil, and the various kinds of 

 materials at hand or most readily obtained. There are a variety 

 of kinds of fences or enclosures used; the log fence, the post 

 and rail, the worm or zigzag, and the stone, which, when the 

 materials are readily obtained, and the fence is properly built, 

 is by all means the most durable, economical, and secure the 

 ditch, the paling, and the live hedge. But in whatever man- 

 ner and of whatever materials they may be constructed, they 

 should be frequently surveyed with a critical eye, and all de- 

 fects rectified without the least delay. 



The growing and alarming scarcity of timber in the United 

 States, renders the enclosure of farms a very expensive item. 

 It therefore is the interest of the farmer to preserve his fences, 

 24 



