18 



BULLETIN 321, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The first step in the construction of a fence is to select the kind 

 best adapted to the purpose for which a fence is needed. The condi- 

 tions to which the different types of fence are adapted have been 

 briefly discussed under the heading, " Local requirements and adapta- 

 tion," but it may be well to review and supplement them here. As 

 there stated, barbed wire, when used to inclose extensive pastures and 

 where only cattle are to be restrained, makes a satisfactory fence. 

 Generally speaking, however, its use alone as a fencing material is 

 not desirable. Woven-wire fencing is fast replacing the other types 

 in use on the general farm where several kinds of stock are to be 

 pastured. Fifty-one per cent of the total fencing used in the area 

 covered by this study is woven wire, and the percentage is rapidly 

 increasing. This woven-wire fencing is made up in many different 

 styles as regards height, spacing of the wires, and size of wire. 

 Each style is constructed so as to be adapted to meet certain conditions. 



LIFE OF AND TEST FOR WIRE FENCING. 



The cost and the life of the various styles of woven-wire fencing 

 differ greatly. Many purchasers consider the first cost of the various 

 kinds to such an extent that they lose sight of the difference in their 

 length of service, which is the controlling factor of their ultimate 

 cost. Table 5 has been computed from the experience of a large 

 number of farmers with the use of the different styles of fencing and 

 shows the relative durability of the different weights and heights of 

 woven wire. 



Table 5. — Relative amount of 



service given by different weights of woven-wire 

 fabric. 



Size of wire. 



Number 

 of esti- 

 mates. 



Average 

 life. 



Size of wire. 



Number 

 of esti- 

 mates. 



Average 

 life. 



No. 9 throughout 



637 



35 



73 



490 



349 



Years. 

 21.1 



20.3 

 18.9 

 17.5 

 17.4 



No. 9 top and bottom, No. 11 



laterals, No. 12 stays 



No. 10 top and bottom, No. 11 



53 

 23 

 43 

 46 



Years. 

 17.7 



No. 7 top, No. 9 bottom, later- 

 als and stays No. 11 or 



16.7 



No. 12 



No. 11 top and bottom, No. 12 





No. 9 top and bottom, No. 10 



14.6 



No. 12 top and bottom, No. 14 

 laterals and stays 





No. 9 top and bottom, No. 11 



12.7 









No. 9 top and bottom, No. 12 









Relative amount of service in years given by different 



fabric. 



toidths 



of woven-wire 





26 



32 



36 



39 



42 



47 



55 









206 

 17.2 



214 

 17 



19 

 18.3 



247 

 18.8 



42 

 19.9 



865 

 18.9 



156 





21.7 







It is becoming generally recognized that the heavier styles of 

 woven-wire fencing are more economical to use. The initial cost 

 of the heavy wire is greater, but it lasts more than enough longer 

 to offset the additional cost. It costs practically as much to con- 



