Tllli FAKMKK'S MAGAZINE. 



325 



THE WIRE FENCE. 



In situations where appropriate, there is no artificial 

 fence neater or more economical — considering first-cost 

 of erection and length of efficiency — than wire strung 

 on wooden posts. In special instances it may be used 

 with advantage on the farm ; but as a general farm- 

 fence, especially on arable lands, it should be adopted 

 with caution. Where shelter is a consideration it is 

 objectionable, as it affords none ; but as a strong, 

 durable, and ornamental fence, it is now much used, 

 and is deservedly popular within the parks and about 

 the home-grounds of gentlemen's country seats. Wire 

 fencing is erected various heights and strengths, varying 

 from 3 feet, with 5 wires high — which is the lightest 

 sort of fence and intended for sheep exclusively — to 

 G ft., with 10 wires, which is used as a fence for deer. 



The wire we see mostly in use for fencing is the whole 

 or single strand wire, and, as had from the manufactory, 

 is numbered according to its strength. There are 

 various sizes of it, varying from that known as No. 4 — 

 measuring 3-12ths of an inch in diameter, and used in 

 the strongest description of fence, as for horses, deer, 

 &c. — to No. 8, which is 5-24ths of an inch diameter, 

 which is the smallest sort, and used only for sheep or 

 lambs. There is, however, another form manufactured 

 for fencing, composed of several strands of wire twisted 

 together, in the same manner as a cable rope, and gal- 

 vanized or covered with zinc, to enable it, without any 

 painting, to withstand atmospheric changes without cor- 

 rosion ; and which, both as regards utility and appear- 

 ance, is to be preferred to the single wire. It some- 

 times happens that cattle put their heads between, or so 

 press against the wires as to put them out of form, and 

 in each case the single wire remains as pressed, pre- 

 senting an unsightly and untidy appearance of fence, 

 and which is rendered the more intolerable as it is 

 probably adjoining or contiguous to the mansion. Such 

 an occurrence never can take place with the cable form 

 of wire, as it is so flexible and elastic that, however 

 much twisted or pressed out of its line, whenever the 

 pressure is removed it rebounds to it again. A cheap 

 form of the last-mentioned wire may be got by pur- 

 chasing in the colliery district their cast wire rope, 

 which is composed of strands, numbering from four to 

 six, which when untwisted make a very serviceable and 

 cheap wire for straining on wooden posts. Not being 

 galvanized they are liable to corrode, and should, for 

 preservation, have a coating of paint or gas tar — or, 

 what I have found quite as cheap and more convenient 

 than either, a composition, by Hill and Smith, of Bri- 

 erly Hill — annually, for two or three seasons after 

 erection. 



In erecting a wire fence permanency is the primary 

 object to be aimed at, and, as the hand of time gene- 

 rally tells with decay on the posts first, it requires consi- 

 derable care that they are made of the proper description 

 of wood, and also that that wood is well impregnated 

 with some preservative material. Oak is the best sort 

 of wood, if full-grown, and should, if possible, be used 

 for posts ; or, at all events, for the straining or main 

 posts. But, from the general scarcity of oak and its 

 high money value for other purposes, we very rarely 

 find a fence made wholly, or even in part, with it. 

 Luckily, however, we have a very worthy substitute in 

 the larch, which, when of full age, ripe, and full of 

 resinous sap, will last for a great number of years as a 

 post. To increase the durability of the posts, they 



should be immersed in, or impregnated with, one of the 

 many preservative fluids now in use. Recent experi- 

 ments point to tar creosote as the best and most ready 

 of applications of any of the known preservative liquids. 

 It should be applied in the manner known as " Cham- 

 py's process," by which the creosote is heated in a large 

 oblong iron vessel to a temperature above the boiling- 

 point of water : the humid wood is then plunged in, 

 and during immersion the water it contains in its pores 

 is formed into vapour and expelled ; the liquid now being 

 allowed to cool, the pressure of the atmosphere forces 

 it into the vacuum thus formed by the expulsion of the 

 water, and thus forming the soluble matter into in- 

 soluble compounds greatly increasing the durability of 

 the timber. As before stated, wire fences are made of 

 various heights, to suit the circumstances ; bat we pur- 

 pose to give a short detail as to the mode of erecting 

 one four feet in height with six wires, such as is generally 

 erected to fence sheep, cattle, and horses. We may 

 here state that the tools necessary in making wire 

 fences consist of a "wire strainer," to stretch the 

 wire, knotting«tools to joint it, "straightener" to take 

 the bends and coils out of it, and " collar vice," for 

 taking a temporary hold until a knot is made, or an in- 

 crease of tension by two applications of the strainer. 

 A most efficient set (as above) is supplied by Kennan 

 and Son, Dublin. 



The line of fence being agreed on, have the first 

 straining post made 7 ft. long, and to square 5 inches, and 

 made of the best oak or full-grown larch wood. As the 

 fence is to be 4 ft. high, or, rather, 3 ft. 9 in. to the top- 

 most wire, the straining post must stand 4 ft. out of the 

 ground, as three inches is allowed from the wire to the 

 top of the post : so that it will be 3 feet in ground, and, 

 in dressing it, the whole bulk of the tree should be left 

 intact for that part below ground. Have another piece 

 of larch prepared, about 6 ft. long, and 8 inches by 6 

 inches, to act as a sole to the post. A piece must be 

 notched or grooved out about 6 inches from one end, 

 about 3 inches deep, and wide enough to allow the 

 bottom of the post to be fitted in, and which must then 

 be secured by four nails passing angularly through the 

 post and into the sole. Another piece must be grooved 

 out, about the same distance from the other end, for 

 the reception of another piece of wood, about 5 inches 

 by 3 inches, which is placed obliquely to meet the 

 post — and into which it is slightly grooved — and act as 

 a stay against the strain of the wire. But before the 

 sole is fitted to the post, have the latter bored with 

 half-inch holes at proper distances, through which to 

 pass the wire, commencing with a 5 inch width, and in- 

 creasing to 10 inches for the topmost wire. 



Having the post, sole, and stay fitted together, as de- 

 scribed, next dig a pit, very exactly in the line of fence 

 to receive it. This pit must be about 3 ft. 4 in. deep, 

 and as near as possible the length of the sole ; and, after 

 being properly levelled at the bottom , place the sole and 

 post carefully put in, the long end of the former being 

 placed with the run of the fence, to assist the strain 

 when the wire is tightened up. The post must be set 

 truly perpendicular, and, to assist the eye to accomplish 

 this, a cord with any small weight attached to its 

 end may be used as a plummet, which, being held be- 

 tween the post and the eye, and at some little distance 

 from it, will show to a nicety any variation they 

 may have from the vertical. When got in a perfect 



