LIVE TREES-AND FENCE POSTS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IX, Issue 909, 10 July 1880, Page 3

LIVE TREES-AND FENCE POSTS.

A few years ago there was considerable interest in the matter of utilising growing trees for supports of boards, rails, aud wire in' making fences. Many thought that a row of trees on the side of, a farm ,pr field might be made to serve as a wind-break, and at the same time .to do awajfr .with the necessity of erecting fence posts, that, were becoming expensive. A few' enthusiasts even thought that varieties of trees might be planted, which would not only break the force of the wind and sustain boards, rails, and wire, but would produce a crop of fruits or nuts, and beautify the premises. It was argued that a tree would not be injured by driving nails or staples into it, and that it was much cheaper to raise trees than to purchase posts. The idea was also advanced that living trees would endure much longer than dead posts. No attempts,' however, to use live trees for fence posts have been very satisfactory. Some of the trees die, others are blown over, and still others are struck by Ughtning. Even, when the trees continue to grow and thrive-' they aro found to answer, the purpose of! fence posts very poorly. Their continued growth draws, the nails through the boards, causing them to drop off. If wire is l used instead of boards, riot only the wire but'the staples that hold it become embedded in. the wood and covered with rust. A few persons have made a tolerably good fence by fastening pieces Of ; scantling to trees' by means ■ of' wire, and attaching the boards or wire to the scantling with nails or staples. When this is done, however, the wire-used to bind the scantling to the tree is likely- to * become embedded-in the latter and rust off.