ALL ABOUT FENCES. 327 



CHAPTER XXII. 



ALL ABOUT FENCES. 



If there is one law more than another urgently required 

 in Florida, at this present juncture, it is a law that shall 

 compel each owner of cattle and those other "curous crit- 

 ters," called in local parlance " razor-backs," to keep his 

 property on his own lands, and not send them abroad to 

 raid and pillage his neighbors' substance, ruin his temper 

 and encourage profanity. 



Here is a reform in the Florida laws that is even more 

 imperative if possible than that other we have looked into, 

 the firing of the woods — and we refer to it now in detail, 

 not so much that incoming settlers may see what is await- 

 ing them, but rather that they may know what their pre- 

 decessors have faced ; for the days of roving stock are 

 numbered, as, like those of the fiorest incendiaries, both 

 belong to the "ancient regime" now swiftly passing away, 

 as the tide of immigration sweeps onward, bringing im- 

 proved methods and more thrifty, provident habits in its 

 train. 



These two laws have been Florida's most glaring draw- 

 backs in the eyes of the industrious, common-sense settler; 

 they are still alive though near dissolution, and in some 

 sections already practically dead ; and the sooner the official 

 death-seal is placed upon them, once and forever, the more 

 rapid will be the advance of the whole State. 



We have seen how the firing of the forest works destruc- 

 tion, now let us look into this fence matter for future tra- 

 ditional reference. 



The past and present law allows stock to roam at will 

 over the property of e\^ry man who can not afford to fence 



