112 



THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



considered, to allow the boards to extend nearly to the ground, 

 instead of nailing on a bottom board, horizontally, below the 

 vertical boards, as is often done ; and, more than all this, 



FIG. 38. 



* i 



U 



SECTION OF BARN- YARD FENCE. 



boards will not wear out as soon in the weather, when placed 

 vertically, as when in a horizontal position. It is a good idea to 

 place a row of flat stones under the bottom of the boards of such 

 a fence, in order to keep them dryer, by keeping away weeds and 

 grass. After the boards are nailed on the yard side of the fence, 

 battens two inches wide, portions of which are shown, should be 

 nailed over the boards, into each rail, with large nails. A line 

 should then be struck at the tops of the boards, and all sawed off 

 straight, and a cap nailed on the top of the boards, which is made 

 of strips of two-inch plank, two and a half or three inches wide, 

 and two inches thick, with a groove half an inch deep, and an 

 inch wide on the under side of it, for receiving the tops of the 

 boards. The corners of the cap are to be planed off before nail 

 ing on. This cap keeps the tops of boards dry, and prevents 

 their springing, and warping in and out, and makes a fence much 

 stronger, besides adding very greatly to its workmanlike appear 

 ance. If it is preferred to cut picket points in the top ends of 

 the boards, it can be done most expeditiously by marking them 



