Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1874 — Fence Planting on the Iowa and Nebraska Prairies. [ARTICLE]

Fence Planting on the Iowa and Nebraska Prairies.

The erection of board fences on a prairie farm is an expensive operation. In Nebraska the law wisely removes the necessity for fence building, by providing for the herding of Jive stock; and, in lowa, the needs of practical farming life bring about very much the same result. But in each case, the law and the practice are the things of the day.Itis an instinct in the owner of land to define his possessions by metes apd bounds, - obvious to the eye, which separate his land from that of his neighbor. If fences were not a convenience there would be no fences; but as fences are a convenience, the improving prairie farmer sets himself to their creation as soon as his house is built, and his land broken. Live fences, of course, are the desideratum; and there are three plants which are naostin favor for the purpose. The Honey Locust, the Osage Orange and the White Willow, make good fences.The two former are impermeable to stock; and, when the latter is well established, the same character may be claimed for it. The White Willow is also of hardy and rapid growth. Mr. C. B. Mendenhall, of Marshall County, lowa, has used the White Willow extensively. On his farm there are about thirteen miles oLWhite Willow fencing, of from three to seven years growth, about half of which will turn cattle, and a portion cut half a cord of wood to the rod. Mr. Mendenhall has also a grove of White AVillow, covering twenty acres, set out six years ago, and which he considers to be worth SSOO pir acre. As, we doubt not, some of our readers are even now considering the question of moving west to lowa or Nebraska, and, as knowledge is a light burden to carry, we give Mr. Mendenhall’s method of planting The willow slips are to be eight inches in length, thrifty sprouts of one or two years growth. The ground for the hedge-row is to be plowed as deeply as possible during August, a dead furrow being left where it is proposed the fence shall stand. Just before frostcomes the land is to be turned back, the dead furrow being filled in. As soon as the earth is open, plant the slips eight inches apart, covering them with finely pulverized earth.— Cultivate as corn for two years, keeping the infant fence entirely Clear of weeds. The followiag-m<-thod wi 11 ensure a rap,id growth: xMulch well in the fall of the second year, placing the mulching as close to the.,plants as may be, without touching the stems. By following Mr. Mendenhall’s plan, the prairie farmer, with White Willow, will have a 1 thrifty fence in the course of three or four years ; and in six years his enclosures will be perfect.