LIVE POSTS.
tree growing over wire—wires attached to boardFig. 161. Fig. 162.
Fig. 161. Fig. 162.
Fig. 161. Fig. 162.
A living tree which stands in the right place, makes a very durable and substantial fence-post. In the greattreeless regions of the Mississippi Valley, where it is difficult to obtain timber for posts, it is not an unusual practice to plant trees for the purpose on street boundaries, and other places where the fence is to be permanent. White willow is well adapted for the purpose on suitable soils, as it grows rapidly and bears close pruning. In situations where the soil is even moderately damp, white willow posts, four inches in diameter, cut green and set in spring, will take root and grow. The new branches soon form a bushy head, which may be cut back from time to time. It is not advisable to nail boards or drive staples directly into the tree. With a board fence, the swaying of the tree loosens the nails, and if barbed wire is stapled to the tree, the bark and wood will in time grow over them as infigure 161. To obviate this, a stick is nailed to the tree as infigure 162, and to this the fence is attached. A still better method is to secure thestrip of wood to the tree by two or three pairs of interlocking staples.