86 



THE SOUTHE 



RN PLANTER. 



is purchased to be cut into scantling and ship 

 stutf. The plan now coming into use for the 

 worm fence, is to set it upon a good sized stone, 

 elevated at least six inches from the ground, as 

 heretofore. 



The rails are first prepared in the following 

 manner: — A measure — say of shingling lath, 

 of the length of the rails, is procured, and holes 

 bored about half an inch in diameter, and four 

 inches from the ends; it is laid upon the rails, 

 and holes bored in them corresponding with 

 those in the measure. When a number of rails 

 are so prepared by boring, and ready to be put 

 into fence, an iron rod suitable to the holes so 

 bored, is set upon the stone or block, on which 

 the fence is to stand, and then the rails are to 

 be inserted on the rod until the panel is com- 

 pleted. The rod is to be bent about one and a 

 half inch at the stone, so that when the fence is 

 completed, it may be clenched or bent over the 

 bottom rail — the panel is secured by making a 

 hitch with a chain or rope, over the joint, and 

 then bending or clenching the iron rod on the 

 top rail — some prefer driving a small wedge at 

 the side of the rod, instead of clenching it, so 

 that the fence might the more easily be removed, 

 if at any time it should be found necessary. — 

 The most expeditious and convenient way for 

 making such a fence, is for two persons to be 

 engaged at it at the same time — one at each 

 end of the rail boring the same simultaneously, 

 and then assisting each other in placing it in 

 the fence. A man can bore many hundred holes 

 in a day, and the expense in preparing and set- 

 ting up a panel, including the rod of iron, would 

 not exceed the expense of preparing and setting 

 up a panel of post-and-rail fence. A great ad- 

 vantage to the farmer in this method of using 

 the iron rod is, that it holds the rails so com- 

 pletely firm at the joint, that no wind as yet, 

 has been of such violence as to move it from 

 the foundation ; such a fence, made of good ce- 

 dar or chesnut rails, will endure until it wears 

 out with old age. 



In the ordinary worm fence, each joint re- 

 quires two stakes, which of cedar or chesnut, 

 cost with us considerably more than the rod of 

 iron. The oak post undressed, is worth about 

 fifteen cents — the two stakes for each joint of 

 the fence, worth twelve and a half cents. Now 

 counting all the expense of both kind of fences, 

 I am well convinced that the iron rod fence is 

 cheaper by fifteen cents a panel than the post 

 fence — besides, the posts rot out, and it will be 

 necessary to obtain a new set every twelve or 

 fifteen years — and then there will be a loss of 

 at least ten per cent, in supplying the place of 

 broken rails and re-sharpening them and others. 

 The iron rod will cost about seven cents — for a 

 five-rail fence, it should be cut about four feet 

 nine inches. The lap of the rails need be no 

 more than about four inches, and the worm 



about four feet — such a fence, with this worm, 

 will stand the heaviest blows that we are accus- 

 tomed to in this climate, especially if the rod be 

 well clenched on the top rail. There may be a 

 saving of one, or even two rails to the panel, in 

 substituting blocks of wood cut short, and bored 

 so as to suit the rod through which it is to be 

 inserted. 



If the above communication may be consi- 

 dered worth inserting in the Cabinet, it is freely 

 at your service. 



An Old Farmer. 



Salem County, JY. J. } Dec. 22, 1842. 



We have our doubts about the value of this 

 mode of fencing, although there is something 

 novel and ingenious in it. We incline to our 

 old opinion, that post-and-rail, when properly 

 made, is the cheapest and neatest fence that can 

 be constructed. However, a writer in a subse- 

 quent number, in whom we think we recognise 

 an old and experienced friend, lauds the plan very 

 highly whilst he suggests some improvements, 

 which will be found in the following extracts 

 from his communication : 



11 In the first place, then, I find that a worm 

 or angle of three feet, is sufficient for the purpose 

 of perfect strength ; producing an elegance of 

 curve, far more pleasing to the eye than the 

 straight fence, for any situation, and requiring 

 but very little more ground space than it : while, 

 at that angle, the loss in the length of rails in a 

 panel of eleven feet, is nine inches only ; a fact, 

 which would scarcely be credited, were it not 

 proved by demonstration. But in the directions 

 given in the Cabinet, there are some things 

 which, I think, can be improved upon ; for it 

 must be very difficult to bend the rod of iron at 

 the stone and clinch it over the bottom rail, if 

 the rod be of a size to give sufficient strength 

 to the fence, without shaking and injury to the 

 work; neither can 'an inch and a half of bar 

 be sufficient length for the purpose. And then, 

 what is to keep it in its proper place on the 

 stone, unless that be broad, in proportion to its 

 height 1 Now, in my plan, I have overcome 

 this difficulty and objection, by merely letting 

 the iron rod into the stone about an inch and a 

 half, and fixing it there with melted lead ; a la- 

 bor and expense not worth the naming, when 

 compared with the service rendered. It seems 

 to be intimated also, that a panel at a time can 

 be finished; but it will be found that the rails 

 must follow each other singly, for a considerable 

 length of space, before one panel can be finished, 

 as the ends of them must lap one over the other — 

 but this is of no importance. Not so, however, 

 with the proposal to clinch or bend the rod over 

 the top rail — a work which I should deem al- 



