THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 169 



those which have a short taper. Pointed posts are far more 

 liable to be lifted out by the frost than those which are of full 

 size clear to the end, and we would not recommend the practice 

 of pointing fence posts ; but as farmers will persist in doing it, 

 we have thought proper to give some practical hints on the sub 

 ject, to aid the inexperienced workmen in doing the job in a 

 workmanlike manner. Let the farmer avoid sharpening posts 

 like Fig. 77. 



JENKINS' PATENT CAST-IRON POST. 



221. Fig. 80 represents a cast-iron fence post for board fence ; 

 but the pattern for it may be made shorter, with holes in it for 

 receiving the ends of the rails for picket fence. The entire 

 length of this kind of post is six feet. The breadth is three and 

 a half inches. The length below the flange or cross-pieces is 

 eighteen inches, tapering and terminating as shown jn ia< gQ^ 

 in the figure, in a barbed or spear-head end. The 



flange is two inches wide, eighteen inches long, 

 with a mortise in the middle of it, through which 

 the post is inserted, the flange being put over the 

 top of the post, and resting on little shoulders or 

 projections, eighteen inches from the lower end. 

 The main part of the post, through which the mor 

 tises are made, is one-fourth of an inch thick, with 

 a flange around the margin, from half an inch to 

 three-fourths of an inch wide, to give strength to 

 the posts. The mortises for the boards are two 

 inches wide, and of any desirable length. 



222. The object of the flange or cross-piece is, 

 to aid in keeping the fence erect, and to prevent 

 the frost heaving it. Holes are made with a crow 

 bar for the posts, when a piece of hard wood plank 

 is thrust through the lower mortise, and the posts 

 are driven in by striking on the edge of the plank. 

 Afterwards the cross-piece is put on ; and a ridge of FENCE POST. 

 earth is thrown up along the fence to save one board, and to cover 



