656 The Journal of Forestry. 



Mr. Baxter's description of his feuce I would not fancy it costs less than 

 Is. od. per yard, independent of the prong supports, consequently we have 

 yet to find out an article or method cheaper than this prong ere our search 

 or study can end. 



Thomas AVilkie, Forester. 



Ardlcinglas, Inverary, Bee. 12, 1877. 



[We would recommend our correspondent to look again at the figure on 

 page 585, where he will plainly see a " double prong," the same as used and 

 recommended by Mr. Baxter. We have recently had practical proof of the 

 stability of a fence supported by these prongs for the last three years, duiing 

 which its " staying power " has been sufficient to resist the force of storms, 

 the attack of horses, heavy cattle, Highland bullocks, and lesser animals, 

 and at the present day stands a substantial, secure, and firm fence. A 

 fair trial is the only proof required to test their efficiency, and it is un- 

 necessary to discuss the question farther without practical experience of 

 the matter.— Ed.] 



HAND-BILLS. 



Sir, — As the kind of axe most suitable for felling the different descrip- 

 tions of timber is now undergoing discussion in the pages of the journal, 

 would it be out of place to offer a few remarks respecting the hill, the 

 illustration of which is given in page 392, and is there stated to be the 

 only one capable of doing forest work efficiently and thoroughly, I must 

 confess that I never saw one used that would be at all like the illustration. 

 I fancy if the woodward was cutting down a thicket of underwood with 

 such a bill, he would not be long before he lamed himself or some one else, 

 on account of the turned-up nib at back of the bill ; and I do not think 

 such a bill would be suitable for bark-peelers ; the projection at the back 

 would be more in the way than anything else. Again, the bill would be 

 useful for dressing the kind of underwood suitable for crate rods and 

 thatchwood, after doing away with the projection and rounding the point, 

 making it in appearance to resemble the blade of one of Saynor's well- 

 known large pruning-knives. Presuming it should prove to be sufficiently 

 light, as a heavy bill would not be suitable for this kind of work, the 

 most suitable hook, or bill, used for cutting down underwood, and for 

 general forest work, such as lopping off the small branches from felled 

 timber, cutting small cordwood, &c., should, in my opinion, answer to the 

 following description : — Length of cutting-blade, 13 inches ; width, about 

 2i inches by the handle, to 3-3- inches at widest part ; thickness at back, f 

 inch. The hook should be made straight at the cutting edge and back, to 

 near the extremity of the blade. The point should then be made parrot- 

 nosed ; this is the best expression I can find, so that everybody may 

 understand it, as most of the hooks obtained from nurserymen and 



