THE CULTIVATOR. 
51 
1847. 
FENCES-DIFFERENT KINDS. 
What shall we do for fencing materials'? is an in¬ 
quiry which is frequently made, and in many parts of 
the country, the expense of obtaining such materials, 
and of forming and supporting fences, constitutes a 
heavy bill in the outgoes of the farmer. 
It has been suggested that iron might be used in some 
sections, with as much if not more economy than any 
other material. A correspondent with the signature of 
“ Tiller,” from New Jersey, writes— 
“ I have been thinking over in my own mind, whether 
an iron wire fence would not be cheaper and far more 
tfurable than any of the ordinary fences now in use; and 
after much calculation as to the relative cost of the va¬ 
rious descriptions of rails, have arrived at the conclu¬ 
sion, that one made of wire, {No. 7 or No. 8 ,) would 
have the advantage. According to my estimate—al¬ 
lowing the wire to cost 8 cents per pound—a panel of 10 
feet, with five rails, will cost about 30 cents—whereas, 
the rough rail of cedar, or chestnut, with but four rails 
to the panel, will cost from 32 to 36 cents—in both 
cases exclusive of posts. The posts for a wire fence 
are the least expensive, inasmuch as the labour of mak¬ 
ing holes with a post-axe is supplanted by the more 
expeditious method of boring with a three-eighths or 
half-inch auger.” 
We are unable to present a comparative view of the 
expense of fences of iron-wire compared with those of 
wood, of various descriptions. If any of our correspon¬ 
dents have had any experience on this subject, we should 
be glad to hear from them. If any one has constructed 
fences of this kind, we should feel obliged if he will 
state the cost — the kind of posts used, how far apart 
placed, the size of the wire used, the mode of stretching 
it, and how secured—-the height of the fence, the num¬ 
ber of wires to each length or pannel, and the kind of 
stock against which the fence is intended as a barrier. 
We learn by the agricultural publications of England 
and Scotland, that wire fences are becoming con¬ 
siderably used in those countries. We have lately re¬ 
ceived a pamphlet from Messrs. W. & C. Young, manu¬ 
facturers of iron and wire work, Edinburgh and Glas¬ 
gow, giving neat cuts and descriptions of various kinds 
offences, gates, &c., with the cost of erection. The 
following extract from their list of prices may be use¬ 
ful 
Iron and wire fence 3 feet 6 inches high, having 
wrought iron straining posts 1 3-8 inch square, every 
75 yards, complete with screwed eye-bolts and nuts for 
straining the wires, and wrought-iron intermediate up¬ 
rights, 1 | by 4 iron, every 8 feet, having 6 horizontal 
wires:— 
For horses, cattle and sheep, of No. 4 wire, Is. 2d. per lineal yard. 
For cattle and sheep, No. 5 wire, Is. Id. “ 
For do No. 6 wire, Is. *• 
For sheep, No. 7 wire, lid. “ 
For do. No. 8 wire, lOd. “ 
Same fences for wood uprights, 6 horizontal wires, 
including staples: 
For cattle and horses, of No. 4 wire, 7il. per lineal yard. 
For cattle and sheep, No. 5 wire, fid. “ 
For cattle and sheep, No. 6 wire, 5ri. “ 
For sheep, No 7 wire, 4d. 
If to include one wrought-iron straining pillar for 
every 75 yards, complete with screwed eye-bolts, and 
nuts for straining the wires, Id. per yard extra. These 
are the prices of materials “ delivered free at Leith, 
Glasgow, Liverpool, and Hull ”—printed instructions, 
illustrated by wood cuts, accompanying each order, by 
which any laborer can readily erect the fences. 
According to the above prices, a fence designed for 
cattle and sheep, three and a half feet high, with six 
horizontal wires, would cost, if of No. 5 wire, about 
$1.50 per rod; if of No. 6 wire, about $1.25 per rod. 
Or the wires for the same kind of fence. Tor wood up¬ 
rights or posts, including staples for fastening the wires, 
about 67 cts. per rod, if of No. 5 wire, and about 55* 
cents per rod if of No. 6 wire. It may be as well to 
remark here, that No. 4 wire is a fourth of an inch in 
diameter, No. 8 , three-sixteenths, and the other num¬ 
bers regularly intermediate. What would be the cost 
of importing these fences we are unable to say; but 
could they not be manufactured at as low a cost in 
this country, expense of transportation, duties, &c,. 
considered, as they could be imported? If such fences 
could be erected here at the prices above named, they 
would not be more expensive in their first cost than 'the 
fences usually constructed in many sections, while their 
permanence and indestructibleness would give them a 
decided advantage. 
In our December number. Mr. W. Penn Kinzek. 
spoke of a kind of fence which is coming into use in 
New Jersey, as follows: 
“ The farmers of Salem county, New-Jersey, are now 
partial to a kind of worm-fence, without stakes anc£ 
riders; they insert an iron rod three-eighths of an iftch< 
thick, through the corners; the rod is turned at the bot¬ 
tom, and bent over the top rail so tight as to make th© 
fence withstand a tempest. In this fence there is per¬ 
haps more economy than any other now in use; it oc¬ 
cupies about half the ground taken up by a stake and 
rider fence. Five to six rails are sufficient for a panel, 
making a handsome fence, resembling a wave, at a dis¬ 
tance.” 
Mr. B. W. Cooper, at Haddonfield, N. J., writes us Ira 
reference to Mr. Kinzer’s communication, “This fence is- 
not confined to Salem County, but is gaining favor in. 
other parts of New-Jersey. A decided improvement 
has been made in the mode of construction over that 
described by Mr. Kinzer. The iron rods (three-eights 
inch square is preferred,) are cut by a smith into suita¬ 
ble lengths, say 4-| or 5 feet, and punched near the top 
end to receive a key; a hole about 1 | in. deep is drilled 
into the stone on which the fence rests, in which the rod 
is inserted, and secured by running in melted lead. 
Holes are bored at each end of the rails, through which 
the rods are passed. Before placing on the top rail, 
put on blocks about six inches long and of sufficient 
thickness to elevate the rail to the top of the rod, thent 
secure by inserting the key. I have erected about 70© 
panels of this kind of fence, seven rails high, which has- 
withstood tornadoes, and to use the language of Mr, 
Kinzer, it is “almost indestructible.” One hundred 
of three-eights iron, cost $5.50, and made 47 rods and 
5 feet in length. Blacksmith’s bill, for cutting, punch¬ 
ing, and keys, 87| cts.” 
Mr. Kinder, in the comit'nication above-mentioned, 
speaks of a “ neat article ” of cast iron, designed to take 
the place of posts, which has lately been brought into 
notice in Pennsylvania. Will he have the goodness to 
inform us of the cost of such posts ? 
Longevity of Peach Trees. —The Genesee Far¬ 
mer says, “ We have just been shown a collection of 
various fruits, by Col. Colby, of Ogden, and among 
others, a fair looking natural peach, from a tree forty 
years old, yet healthy a d productive.” 
