Cultivation of Moorland. 



363 



the soil thrown upwards to raise the head or intended bank. 

 The stone ditching of the front, by layers of stone placed edge- 

 ways, then proceeds to the height of 5 feet, when previously 

 selected rough stones are placed upon the head, as a coping or 

 chief protecting stone to the whole fence. Thus completed, the 

 fence is full 6 feet high, and proves a formidable barrier against 

 all intruders ; but this style of fence is never better than when 

 first erected. 



Its not being planted or raised on the inside is objectionable, 

 — as sheep especially, can readily jump down, but not in again, — 

 and must have been adopted, as a present saving of outlay, in 

 former times ; they are rarely used at the present time ; I have 

 had invariably to " double them up " on the inside when laying 

 out new lands for cultivation. Tenants will not accept them as 

 boundary fences. 



This fence, when completed, costs per perch of 16^ feet, for — 



s. d. 



Castin<2; the hank 13 



Quarrying the stones 13 



Carting the stones, upon an average of half a mile 1 3 

 Building the face wall 1 3 



5 



The more modern fence, both for boundaries and substantial 

 subdivisions, is faced with stones on each side to the height of 4 

 feet, and then headed or finished with 2 feet of grass sods, making 

 the fence when completed full G feet high. These fences aretlien 

 planted with beech-plants in two rows upon the crown of the 

 bank, and arc protected by low hedges on each side, the stakes of 

 which are made from fresh-cut live willows, and the hedging 

 wood is from the nearest coppice of the neighbourhood. 



The plan of live stakes (provinciallv termed withv pitches) is 

 a good one. The witliy-plants and hedging materially aid the 

 growth of tiie beech-plants, and support the bank by the quick 

 growth of their roots. 



The cost of this style of fence is heavy, but it is a good and 

 permanent fence when once erected. 



