WIRE FENCING. A correspondent of the Farm, Field and Stockman furnishes that paper some very practically illustrated matter on wire fencing, and the means of bracing gates and the ultimate facts of distribution, and are made en tirely from the crop records of the year. The per capita rate of consumption is almost a bushel less than that of Great Britain, and it corresponds with all data to local distribution that has been found available, especially in New England and the Middle States, which obtain a fences at each side. That journal has kindly loaned the cuts and hence we present the matter entire, as stated. In introducing the subject the editor of the journal states, that the constantly increasing use of wire fence, or of fencing that combines wire andlumber, shows its adaptability to general economic uses by the masses. It will turn any stock, and where lumber and wire are used together there is little liability of danger from the wounding of stock. A reference to Fig. 1 will show an excellent plan of building a fence for cattle, hogs and sheep, as it will perfectly turn all three of these animals. The posts are set so as to use sixteen-feet fence boards, a stake being used for the center post, of which there are usually plenty on the farm. When a post of ordinary length rots off at the surface, it is sufficiently long for such work. The bottom wire is a hog wire, three inches from the ground; it will prevent little pigs froni going under. The first is a four-inch space, second five inches, third twelve inches, fourth fourteen inches, making the fence fifty inches high. Fig. 2 shows a good, cattle and horse fence. The single The posts should be sixteen feet apart properly, but in case posts are scarce they can bi twenty to thirty feet apart by using one or more ties, as shown in the cut. This makes a very substantial and cheap fence. The bottom wire is twenty-two inches from the ground ; first space fourteen inches, second fourteen, 'making the fence fifty inches high. It should be remem bered, however, that only absolute necessity, from lack of timber, renders an all-wire fence desirable, for the reason that stock cannot see it plainly, and hence may be injured by running against it. Any pale or narrow board on top
of the upper 'wire, if whitewashed, will prevent , this. Coming now to wire gates and bracing, it is correctly stated that gates require to be much wider now than formerly. Mowers; self-raking board will prevent horses from running into it, and the upper wire being a plain galvanized number nine wire, it makes it doubly secure, for if the horse should jump it would not be cut or lacerated. The two barb wires, the barbs not over three or four inches apart, are suffi ciently close to the board to prevent stock from breaking it. A stake can be used for the center the same as with Fig. r. The bottom wire is twelve inches from the ground ; first space ten inches, second ten, third fourteen, making this fence fifty-two inches high. Fig. 3 gives a view of the best all-wire cattle and horse fence that can be built. The two barb wires are sufficient reapers and binders require plenty of room. Much wider and heavier loads of hay are now car ried than formerly. Hence in the case of reap ers, etc., a gate of good width saves much handling and loading. Since the use of wire has come into use, gates are made light and cheaply. At the same time they are firm and strong. There is so much less strain on the hinges that a very wide gate combination of wire and lumber is easy to swing, and in the case of slide gates much easier to slide, since it is necessary that a slide gate be fourteen feet to admit a six and a-half foot binder to pass through. To enable any person handy with tools to make to prevent stock from going through, while the top and bottom wires, of number nine, plain galvanized wire, will prevent horses from being cut, either by pawing over the bottom wire, which is frequently the case, or by jumping upon the upper one. The bottom wire is four teen inches from the ground ; first space twelve inches, second twelve; third fourteen, making this fence fifty-two inches high. The posts are sixteen feet apart. Fig, 4 illustrates the most common barb wire fence in use. It can be changed to various styles to suit the builder.