444 SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. Part II. 



this wall, stones taken from the quarry are to be preferred to the common land-stones ; 



for though a mason may be able to remedy, in some measure, the inequality of surface 



in land-stones, by mixing plenty of lime with them, yet experience proves, that walls 



made with such stones, notwithstanding every care on the part of the builder, are much 



less perfect, and last much shorter time, than where quarried stones are employed. 



This, like every other stone fence, should be secured at the top with a substantial 



copin'. Stone fences of every description not only form complete enclosures at once, 



and by that means allow the proprietor to enter into immediate possession of every 



advantage that can arise from the enclosing of his fields, but, by the little room they 



occupy, a considerable portion of land is saved that would have been occupied by some 



other fences. 







2837. In the construction of walls qf stone mid clay, the clay is used like lime, and is meant to answer 

 the same purpose. It requires slender observation, to convince intelligent persons, that a wall made with 

 such materials in the ordinary way cannot be a durable one ; for if the clay made use of in building the 

 fence has been very moist, the summer's heat will dry it so much, as to leave considerable chasms in the 

 building ; these chasms must necessarily deprive many of the stones of that support which they require, 

 and in that way endanger the building. This, however, is not the only inconvenience with which this 

 kind of wall is attended ; the effect of the summer's sun upon the clay parches it so completely, that 

 when the wet weather commences about the end of autumn, it absorbs the moisture like a sponge, and 

 if it is overtaken by frost while in that state, the fabric swells, bursts, and tumbles down 



2838. Walls qf stone and clay, dashed ivith lime, differ in no respect from that described, except in the 

 harling or dashing that is given them. Where that operation is well performed, and at a proper season of 

 the year, the coating of lime, by preventing the entrance of moisture, will add greatly to the durability as 

 well as beauty of the wall; so much so indeed, that some fences made in this way, where the clay was 

 properly tempered, and did not contain too much moisture, and where a harling or dashing of lime was 

 afterwards given, have been known to last nearly as long as walls made entirely with stone and lime. 



2839. The dry stone wall, lipped with lime, differs from the ordinary dry stone wall, in having about two 

 or three inches of it on each side lipped with lime, which gives it the appearance of being built entirely 

 with stone and lime. "Where the external appearance of a fence is an object, something is gained by this 

 practice ; in point of real duration, however, it seems to possess very little advantage over the common 

 dry stone wall, which, when properly executed, lasts equally long. 



2840. Dry stonewalls, lipped and harled, axe ranch the same, nothing more being added than a harling 

 or dashing of lime after the other work is finished : this addition is to be considered merely as an im- 

 provement upon their appearance, and not as contributing to increase their utility, or render them more 

 durable as fences. 



2841. Dry stoned walls, pinned and harled, are much the same : the mason only carefully pins or fills 

 up all the interstices of the building with small stones, after they have been built in the ordinary way, 

 and afterwards dashes or harls them over with lime. The pinning, by filling up every vacant space, and 



'affording complete support to the stones in every part of the surface, adds considerably to the durability of 

 the building, and the harling afterwards gives the whole a finished substantial appearance, which renders 

 them at once agreeable to the eye, and lasting as fences. 



2842. The dry stone wall, with a light paling upon the top, is sometimes made, and for particular pur- 

 poses answers well, and has a handsome appearance when well executed. 



2843. Brick walls are seldom had recourse to for ordinary enclosures, except in situations where stones 

 are extremely scarce, as is the case in some counties for pleasure-grounds, or for park or garden-walls. 



2844. Frame walls are constructed in the following manner: a frame of deal boards, 

 of a width and height proportioned to that of the intended fence, is placed upon the line 

 in which it is intended to be made, a proper foundation having been previously dug ; 

 the frame is then filled with stones of all sorts, gathered principally from the adjoining 

 fields ; when the frame is filled to the top with such stones, a quantity of liquid mortar 

 is poured in amongst them, sufficient to fill up every interstice ; the whole is suffered to 

 remain in that state till it is supposed that the mortar has acquired a suitable degree of 

 firmness to give stability to the building, which in summer, when the weather is warm 

 and dry, will not require above a day or two. The frame is then removed, and placed 

 a little farther on in the same line, in such a manner as that one end of it shall join 

 immediately with that part of the work from which it had been removed. Ix) that way 

 the line of fence is gradually completed, which, when the lime is of good quality and 

 well mixed with sharp sand, and the proper pains taken to incorporate it with the 

 stones, presents a smooth uniform surface, and will doubtless form a substantial and 

 durable fence. 



2845. Turf walls are met with in almost every upland or hilly district throughout 

 Britain, and for temporary purposes are found very useful. In a variety of instances 

 this sort of fence is used for enclosing fields, and is practised for that purpose to a very 

 considerable extent; in others, however, it is used for the formation of folds, pens, or 

 other places of confinement for cattle during the night. In general, the fence is made 

 with turf only, pared oft' from the adjoining surface, and used without any mixture of 

 earth ; in other cases, the wall consists of a facing of turf on each side, while the space 

 between is filled up with loose earth. For a fold, this fence answers extremely well ; 

 but for enclosing a field, or indeed any other use where durability is required, it should 

 never be had recourse to, as, from the moment it is finished, its decay commences, and 

 no pdins or attention will be able to keep it in repair after it has stood two or three 

 years. 



2846. Slone and turf walls are also very common in many situations, where better and 

 more dural)le ones could be made at equal, perhaps less, expense. In many instances, 

 however, they are had recourse to, from necessity, where lime is either very dear, or not 

 attainable at any price. 



