wooden fence question

[MELOC]

there is some interesting fence on the other side of town and i was wondering if anyone has seen it before and what it's application is. it has been there for a long time, so it is nothing new, i just now got around to inquiring about it as i drove by there the other day and it interested me again.

the fence is a wooden rail fence that is made with posts that look like an "X" and do not look to be sunk in the ground. instead of one post sunk in the ground, there are two posts attached in the shape of an "X".

my thoughts were that, if it was practical for livestock, it would be a good option for folks who either have really rocky pasture, or do not have the equipment to plant posts. it would take twice as many posts, but it would require less time to build.

is there a term for this type of fence? is it practical to use for horses or cattle?

[fordson major]

might be a "patent" fence, used in rocky areas. friend built a mile of it last year.

[Junkmanme]

Does the word "patent" refer to Homesteading as in when the first "patent" (deed) was issued for the property AND generally, it was required that a "homesteader" do a required amount of "improvements" in order for a "patent" to be issued for his "land-claim"?

just a thought about the name" "Patent fence",
Bruce

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by MELOC

the fence is a wooden rail fence that is made with posts that look like an "X" and do not look to be sunk in the ground. instead of one post sunk in the ground, there are two posts attached in the shape of an "X".

my thoughts were that, if it was practical for livestock, it would be a good option for folks who either have really rocky pasture, or do not have the equipment to plant posts. it would take twice as many posts, but it would require less time to build.

is there a term for this type of fence? is it practical to use for horses or cattle?

Like this kind of???

[MELOC]

no, it was a board fence. 2 posts were attached in an "x" and the boards were attached to the posts that leaned outward.

[fordson major]

Originally Posted by Junkmanme

Does the word "patent" refer to Homesteading as in when the first "patent" (deed) was issued for the property AND generally, it was required that a "homesteader" do a required amount of "improvements" in order for a "patent" to be issued for his "land-claim"?

just a thought about the name" "Patent fence",
Bruce

your description is close too what we were taught in high school!(almost long enough ago but not quite! ) they are used on marginal ;land here abouts too fence in cattle and horses, not sheep goat or pig proof though!
usually the cedar that abounds on this type of property has been cleared and used to fence the land, not big enough too make planks and has usually started too up root.