MISCELLANEOUS FARM CONVENIENCES 207 



made sixteen feet long, which will allow for a clear 

 opening about fourteen feet wide. The cheapest way 

 to make a good farm gate is to use a 10-inch board for 

 the bottom, 8-inch for the board next to the bottom and 

 three 6-inch boards above that. The space between 

 the bottom board and next board is two inches. This 

 narrow space prevents hogs from lifting the gate with 

 their noses. The spaces widen toward the top, so that 

 the gate when finished is five feet high. If colts run the 

 fields then a bar is needed along the top of the gate. 

 Six cross pieces 1 inch by 6 inches are used to hold 



Figure 194. Fence Pliers. This is a heavy fence tool made to pull 

 fence staples and to stretch, cut and splice wire. 



the gate together. These cross pieces are bolted through 

 at each intersection. Also a slanting brace is used on 

 the front half of the gate to keep it from racking and 

 this brace is put on with bolts. Two posts are set at 

 each end of the gate. .The front posts hold the front 

 end of the gate between them, and the rear posts the 

 same. There is a cross piece which reaches from one 

 of the rear posts to the other to slide the gate and 

 hold it off the ground. A similar cross piece holds the 

 front end of the gate up from the ground. Sometimes 

 a swivel roller is attached to the rear cross piece to roll 

 the gate if it is to be used a good deal. A plain, simple 

 sliding gate is all that is necessary for fields some dis- 

 tance from the barn. 



