68 CIVISIO?? OF FARMS. 



to be destro3^cd, and his cattle become habitually unru- 

 ly. One unruly creature will learn others to be so ; 

 and thus the farmer with his poor fences, finds his cat- 

 tle, instead of being profitable, to become productive 

 of unceasing losses, and, what follows of course, of un- 

 ceasing vexation. When the farmer is conscious that 

 he cannot even sleep in peace, on account of the dan- 

 ger of his cattle destroying the fruits of his labours, he 

 cannot be said to enjoy that tranquility which ought to 

 be the reward of the sweat of his brow. Rather, there- 

 fore, let him make his fences what might be generally 

 deemed more than sufficiently high and strong, than too 

 low and weak. This, if it be an error, is erring on the 

 safe side ; on the side which secures the fruits of his la- 

 bors, promotes his tranquillity and happiness, and tends 

 to the maintenance of peace and harmony among neigh- 

 bours. 



Log fences^ are best when built of white pine, lasting 

 perhaps 20 years. The next in durability are pitch pine, 

 hemlock, ash, oak, and white maple. Bass wood, 

 poplar, birch, beach, and rock maple soon rot. Logs that 

 are peeled will last much longer. 



Worm fences^ are made with most ease, but require 

 more timber than some others. 



Post and rail fences^ and board fences are very good 

 when the soil is dry. In a wet soil the posts will be 

 moved by frosts. The posts should be put two feet in- 

 to the ground. Red cedar, locust, and chestnut are best. 

 Butter-nut, black-walnut, and oak are pretty good, last- 

 ing about 15 years. Letting the bark remain on that 

 part of the post put into the ground, is supposed to ren- 

 der it more durable. For the rails, cedar is best, last- 

 ing perhaps an age. If timber is scarce, and the ground 

 is level and free from stones, post and rail fences, set in 

 a bank made of the earth of two small ditches throw n 

 up together, ought to be preferred. If the posts are too 

 small to have holes made through them, the rails may 

 be flatted at the ends, and fastened to the posts with 

 spikes, or with wooden pins well secured. 



Stone ■wall. Building walls is not only the way to clear 

 ground of a bad incumbrance, but it is the best and cheap- 

 est of all fences in the end, tor if properly made, it will 

 last an age, with some trifling repairs. On a hard, sandy. 



