FENCE, a structure or other barrier set to fend or ward off trespassing upon the lands enclosed. In most of the States the common law does not demand of an owner of land that he build a fence around it, but does require of an owner of cattle that he restrain them within fences upon his own land. But in the case of adjoining owners, one of whom pas tures cattle upon his land, the law requires that each build one-half of a fence upon the dividing line between them, and that each keeps his half in repair. The common saying in the farming districts is that a fence must be ahorse high, bull strong, and pig tight" : that is, so high that a horse cannot jump it, so strong that a bull cannot throw it down by charging it, and so tight that a pig cannot crawl through it. In most of the States the legal, height is four feet, in some it is four and one half feet. In most of the grazing States of the West and Southwest, the duty of protection by fences devolves upon the owner who desires protection. An owner without fences runs his own risk of damage by roving cattle. In England a ditch constitutes a fence in law.
The simplest fences, common in farming districts, are the snake or worm fence, and the post-and-rail fence. The former is built up of split rails or saplings laid in zigzag panels, the ends of the rails of one panel intersecting alternately with the ends of the next panel, with a pair of stout stakes driven into the ground at each side of the intersections to hold the fence upright. A modification of this fence results from the straightening out of the zigzags, and the tying of the stakes at the top with a withe or wire. Another of the cruder forms of the snake fence is the or stake-and rider fence, in which the stakes are long and inclined so as to cross at about six rails above the ground, and the rider rail is laid in the crotch thus formed. An advance upon these primitive fences is the post-and-rail fence, the posts having (usually) four. holes mortised through them, which receive the opposite ends of two lapping rails in each mortise. Another rough fence is the board fence, a simple line of posts 12 to 16 feet apart, according to the length of the boards, which are nailed on length wise. An ornamental variation of this type of fence has the boards cut in short lengths and nailed on upright upon fencing strips set hori zontally between the posts, the line at the top being scalloped on each panel. The picket fence. is of better workmanship, the panels being framed on the posts, and the pickets of various sizes, and set with many ornamental variations of design.
Another fencing material of universal use is galvanized iron wire, either' round or as a narrow ribbon, and with or without barbs. This is fastened by staples, as many strands as neces sary for the purpose, to posts set at considerable distances apart, and braced to stand the lateral strain required to stretch and keep the wires taut. The posts may be of wood, in which case
the end set in the ground is charred, or treated with creosote oils. Or they may be of re inforced concrete, either solid or hollow. If wood is used, locust and red cedar are preferred as longest lived, with chestnut second choice. A great deal of wire fencing is made by ma chinery which weaves it into oblong meshes of various shapes smaller at the bottom and larger at the top. Besides this ready made factory fence, machines are furnished for weaving the fence upon the posts in the field. Several com binations are produced in this line, some with wooden pickets twisted into horizontal wires, or with flat or round wire pickets. These fences are cheap to buy, and very economical in endurance. In some localities cast iron fenc ing is in vogue, and some handsome imita tions of hammered wrought iron are produced. This type of fence when set with red brick posts or mounted upon a low red brick wall is very pleasing in appearance, and of great durability.
Stone fences are sometimes mere heaps of loose stones, but oftener are carefully laid up with dry wall faces, when they are sightly and most durable. The masonry fence lends itself to architectural treatment, and many most artis tic effects have been produced especially in the matter of gateways. Rustic fences of cedar and arbor vita: are always attractive in rural surroundings, but need frequent repair.
In more recent years the concrete fence has come much into favor, especially where ornamental effects were striven for. Chief of these are the bold treatment of posts outstand ing from the line of the wall at equal intervals, with well-proportioned paneling between, and decorated with square, oval or round medal lions. Variety is also given by mixing the ce ment with variously colored sands, broken brick or coal screenings, or adding red or yellow earths to secure special tints, and gravel or broken stone of different sizes to gain texture. Textural effects are heightened by playing a hose upon the green cement, or using a sand blast on the dry wall.
Live fences, or hedges, are highly favored in most localities. Privet, locust, osage orange, the buckthorn and cockspur thorn, the rose of Sharon, and the Japanese barberry are among the best of the deciduous plants used for hedges. Among the evergreens, arbor vita, juniper, box, hemlock, and spruce are eminently satisfactory.
Bibliography.— Butterfield, W. H.,