68 THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



high, and therefore in some places twice as many rails are un 

 loaded as are necessary, while in other places there are not half 

 enough. Sometimes there may be just enough to build the fence, 

 but they have been distributed so unevenly that many of them 

 must be carried too far. "When a man is obliged to go twenty 

 or thirty feet for every rail, it will take him twice as long to lay 

 up a fence as it would were the rails left within a few feet of the 

 place where they will be needed. It is a very easy matter to 

 distribute rails for a fence so that there will be just enough to 

 build it, and it argues a little stupidity and want of calculation to 

 see one distribute rails in such a manner that after the fence is 

 finished there are several loads to haul away. That is all lost 

 labor ; and it will consume several hours to haul and unload, and 

 reload and haul away, two or three loads of rails. 



72. In distributing rails for a fence, in the first place set a few 

 stakes where the fence is to be built. Now calculate how many 

 panels there will be in five or six rods. We will say there are 

 thirty paces in six rods. If the foundation is not laid, the rails 

 may be laid for thirty paces or so, in a straight line, or zigzag, 

 like a worm fence, and then, by counting the number of panels 

 in thirty paces, and by multiplying the number of panels by the 

 number of rails in one panel, we shall know how many rails are 

 wanted in a distance of thirty paces. Now, let the number of 

 rails required in thirty paces be distributed close to the place 

 where the fence is to be made, and put them in small piles, with 

 not more than ten in a pile, so that they will be near at hand, 

 and be well spread out, so that small rails can be selected, if neces 

 sary, without tumbling over half a load. Never leave them with 

 nearly a load in a pile, nor in the place where the fence is to be 

 built, lest they have to be removed ; nor a rod or two distant, 

 for fear they may be in the way. Now pace off thirty paces 

 more it can be done in less than one minute and drop as many 

 more rails, and in the same order, and proceed in this manner 

 until a job is finished. When the foundation, or the first rail is 

 laid, it is a very easy matter to make calculations for hauling just 

 enough to make a fence. 



