COST OP FENCING IN NORTH CENTRAL STATES. 



portion to the size of the hedge. The trimming is an expensive 

 operation, and amounts to more than the cost of repair of wire 

 fencing, as will be shown under another heading. 



The idea of the hedge fence was brought to this country from 

 England. English farmers were forced to use this means of in- 

 closing their lands on account of the scarcity of timber in that 

 country. This country was settled largely by English people, who 

 clung to the customs of their mother country, and established hedges 

 as a matter of custom, sometimes where the conditions did not war- 

 rant their use. 



No new hedges are being established in the region here under con- 

 sideration. Many farmers who have hedges now realize that they 



Fig. 5. — The distribution of wooden fence. 



are no longer practicable and are removing them from their farms. 

 The only feasible way to get rid of them is to pull them out by the 

 roots. It costs about 30 cents per rod to draw out small hedge by 

 team and from 20 to 25 cents per rod when an engine is used. It 

 will, of course, cost more to remove larger hedge. 



STONE FLNCES. 



There is comparatively little stone fence used on farms in the 



area 3tudied. Ill the limestone area of eastern Kansas and in eastern 



onsin there is some stone fence in use. Small amounts are 



found in other parts of the area, but not enough to show on the 



fence map (fig. 7.). 



18° -Bull. 321—16 2 



