304 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



mined some of them to take active steps toward pro- 

 ducing a fence wire more resistant to atmospheric 

 corrosion." 



The Secretary of Agriculture's report for 1909 (Year- 

 book) contained a full discussion of this important mat- 

 ter, and it is from this source that the technical informa- 

 tion given herewith is drawn. 



Wire fencing, to the poultry man, means the close- 

 woven netting of wire, of which the commonest type is 

 a uniform hexagonal web with heavier wires at the 

 edges. This fencing comes in all widths from one foot 

 to six feet, in various spacings and in various weights of 

 wire, of which that known as No. 19 is the smallest that 

 gives satisfaction. Therefore, this is the popular size; 

 since it is the cheapest that will "do." General testi- 

 mony is to the fact that these nettings, which "might 

 reasonably be expected [see Report] to last for ten or 

 fifteen years," will become nearly worthless through 

 rusting, in two or three years. Quite possibly the users 

 of this class of goods are not discriminating enough as 

 to the varying effect of varying conditions on such fenc- 

 ings. It is well enough known that the "life" of such 

 fencing is shorter near the seashore, or near large cities 

 and manufacturing plants which give sulphurous gases 

 into the air. And even in ordinary rural conditions, 

 there is a considerable difference in the life of wires, due 

 to general strength of prevailing winds and the amount 

 of abrasive dust which these winds carry. Where sand 

 is much in the air, deterioration is hastened. But, with 

 all allowance made, there still has been plenty of reason 

 for complaint. 



Fencings bought of dealers who have claimed to carry 



