THE YOUNG FAKMER J S MANUAL. 167 



bass-wood, and such like. All kinds of posts should be seasoned 

 at least one year before they are set in the ground. 



219. Hewing posts. "When posts have been split out, the most 

 convenient mode of scoring and hewing them is, to lay the post 

 to be hewed on two large blocks or logs, and then drive in two 

 stakes or pins, about six or seven inches apart, in one log, and 

 let them extend beyond the surface of the log eight or ten inches, 

 and key the post with a wedge in the desired position between 

 these two stakes ; then line it and hew it. Some men prefer hew 

 ing their posts after they have been set in the ground, but the 

 practice is not a good one, because it loosens them. 



220. Sharpening posts. "When the ends of posts are to be 

 sharpened, if they are so large that a man cannot hold them 

 erect with one hand, with the post standing on a firm block, 

 while he sharpens it with an axe in the other hand, they may be 

 fastened with a wedge in a gain cut in a heavy log, in a device 

 similar to the one for holding posts when they are to be hewed, 

 as shown by Fig. 75. It requires the exercise of a little skill to 



FIG. 75. 



ffHCUSOM 



A POST CLAMP FOR HOLDING WHILE SHARPENING. 



sharpen a post in a proper manner for driving well. The bevel 

 or slant should be of exactly a given angle on each side of the 

 post. The following figures will give some correct idea on the 

 subject : Fig. 76 represents a post sharpened in the most proper 

 manner. A post sharpened thus, when it is being driven, will 

 go straight down, if the point does not hit a stone. Figs. 77 

 and 78 represent two posts improperly sharpened. Although 

 they may go straight down, when sharpened like Fig. 78, they 



