PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 89 



Mr. Prince replied, by the science which determines their class and order 

 as perfectly without fruit as with. 



The New Law about Cattle in the Highway. 



Mr. Adrian Bergen, of Long Island, introduced this subject, and stated 

 that thei'e were a great many persons who were ignorant of the fact that 

 we have a new, good law, which, if enforced, will rid us of an intolerable 

 nuisance. He therefore wished that the provisions of the law should be 

 well understood by members of the Club, and that they would make it bet- 

 ter known to others. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I hold a copy of this law in my hand, which I will 

 read, if there are any members desirous of hearing it. By the first section 

 it is enacted that it shall not be lawful for any cattle, sheep or swine to 

 run at large in any public highway in this State, and it is made lawful for 

 any person to seize and shut up an animal found upon the public highway, 

 or trespassing upon his premises. In short, it makes every man his own 

 pound-master, and authorizes him to proceed summarily against trespass- 

 ing animals, and if pi'operly enforced will prove one of the best laws ever 

 passed by the Legislature of this State. 



Mr. Adrian Bergen. — It is very important to us on Long Island that it 

 sliould be enforced, and I am determined for one to do my duty, and ask 

 the support of all others to sustain me in doing it. 



Professor Mapes. — This is a very righteous law. We have a similar one 

 in New Jersey, where I have had occasion to test its efficacy. I do not 

 pretend to close the gates of the road leading into my place; I leave them 

 open on purpose, so that if any person chooses to defy the law, I will give 

 liim an opportunity to feel its effects. I made one owner of horses pay for 

 the damage which they did in running through my hot-bed, breaking the 

 glass and frames. It is contrary to common sense principles to suppose I 

 am obliged to fence my neighbor's cattle off my premises. In New Jersey 

 we have pretty neai'ly succeeded in convincing those who have been in the 

 habit of pasturing the highway, that they have no rights there. 



Mr. Andrew S. Fuller. — I am glad to hear that Prof. Mapes intends to 

 punish the owners of cattle straying into his premises. I have seen a hun- 

 dred head of cows prowling in a body in the streets and vacant lots in 

 Brooklyn. If one unruly one breaks through the fence, it may let in a 

 whole army, and destroy $1,000 worth of nursery plants in a few minutes. 

 I had eight cows in my nursery a few days ago, and one of my neighbors 

 had the impudence to tell me that I must strengthen my fence, for he 

 wanted to turn his cows out upon the common. These uncivilized cow- 

 herds claim it as their right to possess all land that is not fenced. There 

 is a lot adjoining me, fenced at the cost of $7,000, with a wall ten feet 

 high; and that is the only way to keep Brooklyn cows off your premises. 

 I was at Flushing the other day, and found that everybody could enjoy the 

 convenience of keeping gates open. I hope our police commissioners will 

 instruct the police to pound all cattle running at large. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — I shall be glad to see this law strictly enforced, and 

 it can be much more easily done than the old law, which required the 

 animals to be first driven to the pound. Still I do not think this law reoeals 



