34 OSTRICH-FAKMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



than seven feet long, to be put two feet in the ground, 

 and ten feet apart. Every 400 or 500 yards, or less 

 where there are dips in the ground, the fence should 

 break off, and the next length commence as a fresh 

 fence, thus : — 



400 yds. ^^^y'^^- 500 yds. ^^^ y^^' 

 This is to avoid the great strain that must otherwise 

 come by the contraction in cold weather if carried as 

 a continuous fence. The end poles should be eight 

 feet long, and the heaviest poles picked out for this 

 purpose. They should be three feet in the ground, 

 supported by a strut in front, and tied down to the 

 foot of a short pole put deep in the ground about ten 

 feet behind them. This tie should be made by twice 

 threading a wire through the top of the end pole, and 

 through the foot of the back stay pole just mentioned, 

 this being hove tight with a crow-bar in the same 

 manner that the transport riders tighten their wool 

 reims. The crow-bar can be drawn out when it is 

 tight, as the twist will not come loose. A heavy stone 

 should be placed, partially buried, in front of the strut, 

 the end pole, and the back stay pole. Where the holes 

 are in rock, the end and back stay poles should always 

 be run in with concrete, and better still if the line poles 

 are also. Although this may sound expensive to some 



