Fencing for Woods. 



Any one with merely a slight experience in fencing for woods must 

 know the many objections to wooden railing, mainly the expense and 

 the want of durability, I have lately come across two kinds of 

 fencing, each of which has its advantages, and wliich I will briefly 

 describe. 



The one is a wire fence of American origin, called the "Barb 

 Fence," so named from the barbs or spikes fixed on it at intervals of 

 some six inches. It is a twisted wire of two strands, having a short 

 bit of wire twisted at right angles round one of the strands forming 

 two sharp spikes, the transverse wire being kept in its place by the 

 second wire strand being twisted round the first. The wire is sent 

 out in coils from the manufacturers round a rough wood framework, 

 which is inside, the spikes being exposed en route. 



The advantages claimed for the barb fence are these, that though 

 made of steel wire, capable of resisting a strain of from 1,200 to 

 1500 lbs., still, owing to the barbs, strength is not required, as cattle 

 having once come in contact with the wires give them a wide berth 

 ever afterwards. Any one conversant with wire fencing knows that 

 the main danger of breakage is owing to the beasts shoving their 

 heads and horns through the wires to eat the grass within a couple of 

 feet of the fence, they then get fast, and either break the wires, pull 

 out the staples, or loosen the stobs. This, with the barb fence, no 

 animal will do. At the same time the spikes are so short, that though 

 they will prick severely, still they will do no real harm. 



The makers claim that three wires will be as effectual a fence as 

 six lines of common fencing — certainly four lines would. The 

 wires are fastened with staples to the usual stobs, and cost 12s. fid. 

 per 100 yards. Thus supposing four lines used, they would 

 cost for wire 6d. per yard. The makers of the barb fence are Messrs. 

 E. Johnson and Shepherd, Bradford Iron Works, Manchester. 



The other] fence that I have erected is a combination of iron 

 and wood. Iron uprights and stay bolts made of angle iron, thus ~| , 

 with holes bored in one side, in which are inserted iron loops to sup- 

 port wood rails. 



The rails are 4 in. X 1 in., therefore the loops must be sufficiently 

 large to embrace them, and be screwed by nuts to the uprights. 

 There is an iron stay to the upright with a flat foot, which supports 



