544 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XLIII. 



fixed to tlie head, which strike upon a graduated catch inserted in tlie 

 rebate, or on the outer face of the sliulting-post. Wliere hogs have learned 

 to open gates, they are completely balked by the head being fitted to strike 

 upon a staple in the face of the shutting-post, through which an attached 

 pin is placed. Sometimes a bit of chain to link over a spike answers as 

 well as any thing else. The kind of fastening much depends on the fre- 

 quency with which the gate is used. 



Swinfj-qates are preferred for public thoroughfares, because they cannot 

 be left open unless tin-own off the gears ; but they require very stout hang- 

 ing-posts, and these inserted deep in the ground. They are made to swing 

 either forwards or backwards, by being made to rest and traverse on two 

 liooks let in to the hanging-post near the bottom. Upon these hooks a 

 thick horizontal plate of iron called " horns," having semicircular notches 

 to fit the hooks, is fastened to the thur. The hooks are alternately the 

 fulcrum of the gate's movements, and fitting exactly on both when at rest. 

 A notched catch is fixed to the inner face of the shutting post, on which a 

 balanced lifting latch attached to the head of the gate is caught when the 

 latter is at rest. 



Gates of every description are often damaged by carriages for want of 

 some trifling accompaniments. Every field-gate should have a stump 

 placed on the ground behind to ])revent its falling too far back ; and to 

 this stump a lifting-catch should be attached to hold the gate open. A gate 

 thus kept back is more likely to be carefully shut by the waggoner than if 

 he trusts to its shutting of itself. The following is also a not unusual form 

 of field-gates : — 



The thur is formed of a crooked butt of a tree, or of one having a branch 

 projecting in the right position. Its bending over and so high above tlie 

 top-rail affords the opportunity of having a carrying-brace, framed diago- 

 nally, to prevent the dropping of the gate at the head, an accident which 

 should always be provided against in the erection. 



Both these forms of gates are sometimes constructed of split bars and 

 braces, rather than such as are sawn ; the makers asserting that they, from 

 tlieir elastic property, last much longer than when made of scjuared 

 scantling. Iro7i gales, however, as being the most durable, will be found 

 the cheapest in the end. Almost every blacksmith has his favourite 

 notions of gate fastenings, and their variety has now become so numerous 

 that we cannot enter into any details of their description; but we confi- 

 dently refer our readers to Mr. Parker's " Essay on the construction, 

 hanging, and fastening of Gates," in which will be found cuts of the several 

 kinds commonly in use, together with directions for their formation, and 



