I20 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



FARM BRIDGES. 



Fig. 644. 



ORTUNATE is the farm that has a stream of water running 

 through it, for a brook or even a small rill not only brings many 

 material advantages, but adds greatly to the attractiveness of a 

 place. A much larger percentage of the farms of the country 

 than one would at first thought suppose are crossed by running 



water, often necessitating bridges for the passage of farm teams, or a foot bridge 



for the family. 



It is unfortunate that so many neglect properly to construct such bridges 



as are required, for in the often carelessly-built affairs that serve to span these 



streams, they miss both the element of •« ^ 



safety and the element of good looks. 



Well-constructed farm bridges are capable 



of adding not a little to the attractiveness 



of a place. Throwing a couple of logs 



across a stream and covering these with a 



heterogenous collection of planks, or it 



may be of round and uneven saplings, does not subserve safety, convenience or 



beauty. The illustrations given herewith show how farm bridges may be con- 

 structed simply but strongly, and in a way to give an air of neatness to the 



work. Fig. 644 shows an under con- 

 struction in which the centre of the 

 bridge is supported by two lateral braces, 

 whose power of support, arranged in this 

 way, is very great. 



Fig. 645 shows braces arranged above 

 the span, whose power is also great, the 

 support being of the same nature as that 



shown in the preceding figure, but differently applied. 



Where still greater strength is desired for the passage of heavy loads, a 



combination of these two forms will be 



effective, as shown in Fig. 646, where the 



upper braces support the middle of the 



span, and the lower braces support that 



portion between the middle and either 



end. The ends of the stringers in such 



bridges should rest upon well laid rocks 



to give permanence and stability to the 



structure. Foot bridges are often needed, 



and here it is possible to achieve some 



really artistic effects, for rustic work, so often inappropriately used, is here 



>^^ 



Fig. 645. 



Fig. 646. 



