16 BULLETIN 321, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



that permanent inside fence constitutes on an average 35.3 per cent 

 of the total farm fence, and that there is but 1.2 per cent of tempo- 

 rary inside fence used. In many cases a considerable amount may 

 be saved by the use of temporary instead of permanent interior 

 fences. Figure 10 represents a farm of 160 acres which is fenced 

 on the four sides with permanent fence. The farmstead and the 

 lane are both inclosed by permanent fence. By eliminating the re- 

 maining interior fences there are 474 rods less fence to maintain. 

 The annual cost of maintaining 474 rods of a fair grade of woven 

 wire having an investment cost of 65 cents per rod and lasting 15 

 years is as follows : 



Cost of repairs at $0,024 per rod $11. 37 



Interest on average investment (total investment $308.10), $154.05, at 



5 per cent 7. 70 



Depreciation, one-fifteenth of $308.10 20. 54 



Total 39.61 



To maintain the necessary amount of temporary fence would re- 

 quire a very small investment. Permanent and solid anchor posts 

 should be placed along the lane and along the 

 outside of the farm at the field divisions. 

 This would require 14 anchor posts, 4 of 

 which could be used in the permanent lane 

 fence. They should not cost over $4 each for 

 material and labor. There would be no de- 

 preciation on posts of this kind if they are 

 properly constructed. Enough wire would be 

 /eords. needed to fence in any field on the farm. This 



fig. io. would require not to exceed 160 rods of fence. 



If the fence is taken up at the end of the season and stored, it will 

 not be subjected to as much corrosion by weathering, but it would 

 probably become unserviceable as soon as permanent fence on account 

 of being handled and stretched so often. It would probably be more 

 desirable to use medium-weight wire for this purpose on account of 

 the greater difficulty of handling the heavy wire. If heavy anchor 

 posts are provided, it will not be necessary to place the line posts 

 closer than 2 rods apart, as the wire can be stretched very tightly 

 and should not become loose enough in one season to permit stock to 

 get through it. Only a fair grade of posts would be needed to last 

 as long as the wire. Such posts should cost not to exceed 20 cents 

 each, or 10 cents per rod. The largest item of expense would be the 

 labor. This should not exceed 8 cents per rod. A glance at Table 8 

 (p. 30) would seem to indicate that this figure is liberal. The total 

 approximate cost per rod of materials exclusive of anchor posts 

 would be as follows : Woven wire, 28 cents ; posts, 10 cents ; barbed 

 wire and staples, 4 cents; total, 42 cents per rod. Following is a 

 summary of the cost of maintaining 160 rods of temporary fencing: 





