THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 139 



as nearly alike as they can be conveniently, the pickets will not 

 all stand in a perpendicular position. I have noticed fences made 

 in this manner, where the pickets in some parts of the fenco 

 would lean more than the width of one space. 



177. To aid the workman in making the loops, an instrument 

 like Fig. 55 is necessary, which is made of cast-iron, and screwed 

 fast to a work-bench, or held in a vise. The projections a a 

 should be as large in diameter as the pickets, and FIG. 55. 

 just as far apart as it is desirable to have the pick- a a 

 ets when they are worked into the fence. In 



forming the loops, have the wire in a close coil, 

 and after winding it around one of the iron pins 



INSTRUMENT FOR 



a a, carry it to the other pm, winding the wire BENDING THE WIRE. 

 around that also. Now slip both loops off the tops of pins a a, 

 and put the loop which was made last on the first pin. Again, 

 slip off the loops and carry them back, making one loop every 

 time they are slipped off. Great care should be exercised to 

 carry the coil, in bending every loop, just so far forward, and to 

 have the last loop put on the pin with the straight part of the 

 wire between the loops at just such an angle with the pins; other 

 wise there will be a variation in the spaces, so that the pickets 

 will lean a little in some places, and then will be perpendicular in 

 some places, and then they will lean a little in other places in an 

 opposite direction. An accurate workman will bend the loops 

 with two pins ; but the beginner had better have three pins instead 

 of two, and then there will be no liability to make variations in 

 the spaces. When three pins are used, all three of the loops 

 must be slipped off the ends of them every time a loop is made. 

 The wire should not be wound around as a string would be, but 

 the whole coil must be carried around the pin. If this is not done, 

 the wire will be twisted once around at every loop, which weak 

 ens its strength. 



178. The posts for such a fence may be set as far apart as 

 thought best, say from eight to twelve feet, with one side of them 

 on a line with each other ; and then the wires may be laid on the 

 ground, and the pickets put in the loops, with the tops all in line. 



