142 THE LARCH. 



will last long, even under the trying condition of a 

 fence post. 



'No. 4 is a post-and-rail fence, composed of round 

 posts and half round rails. It is situated on the 

 county roadside, about midway between Hawick and 

 Ashkirk, county of Selkirk. The fence was erected 

 twenty-eight years ago, and may to all appearance 

 stand ten or fifteen years longer. It has been 

 occasionally painted, and the posts charred and fre- 

 quently tarred at the surface of the ground. The 

 situation is a cold and exposed one, — the soil in which 

 the posts stand, a red sandy clay. The trees from 

 which the fence was made were apparently not over 

 forty years old, and of slow growth, probably grown 

 on Sinton estate. The tarring, which was done with 

 Archangel tar, might have a preservative influence, 

 but I do not think the charring could in any way 

 benefit them. 



ISTo. 5 is an example of how far certain soils induce 

 posts to decay while others preserve them. A know- 

 ledge of the fact that w^ood remains sound for an inde- 

 finite length of time in peat, bog, and moss has led 

 many persons astray and into serious errors. Take 

 the following as an example : — A Banffshire farmer 

 took a nineteen years' lease of a farm, which he under- 

 took to fence and maintain in good repair at his own 

 expense to the end of his lease, and as about one-third 

 of the farm was reclaimed from peat-bog and thoroughly 

 drained, he concluded that one set of posts, although of 

 medium quality, would stand the lease ; but instead of 



