46 Utility of Lime in preserving Fence-posts, 



with quick lime ; if but partially, it is better than if totally 

 slaked, because as it slakes it will expand and make the 

 post stand very firm. If altogether slaked, it also swells 

 and makes the post quite secure. From three to five 

 posts, with hewn or uniform butts will require one bushel 

 of lime. Boards to surround the post half an inch thick 

 (and perhaps this thickness of lime may be sufficient) 

 would not take quite half that quantity. The lime is all 

 the additional expense, except the extra labour (which is 

 very trifling,) to be incurred by setting a fence, with that 

 part of the posts in the ground enveloped in lime. 



To prevent the ground from adhering to the posts at 

 the surface, and occasioning their decay, this part being 

 the one which generally first begins to rot, lime-mortar is 

 applied, plaistering round the posts with an elevation ad- 

 joining to the wood. Into this mortar, gravel was press- 

 ed, to prevent the rains from washing it away. This 

 mortar may be applied at any time most convenient after 

 the fence is made. 



WiELiAM Webb. 



Roberts Faux, 

 Sec^t/. PhUad, Agric. Soc, 



