Till; FARM HOLDING. L59 



years compelled landholders to exercise greater economy in the use <»t' posts, 

 and tin- panels are now * »t" much greater width ; in extreme cases posts arc 

 as much as 1 chain apart. 



In erecting a fence, however, efficiency must be taken into consideration as 

 well as cost, and it is very bad economy to endeavour to save a little on the 

 original cosi by reducing the number of posts if the result means higher cosl 

 of maintenance or a fence that will not give the desired protection. Such 

 serious loss may OCCUr through weak fences that it is very desirable that the 

 fences shall be strong. The loss consequent upon several valuable working 

 horses breaking through a weak fence on to ripe wheat, for instance, may be 

 much greater than the saving effected in the erection of the fence. 



While, however, it has been found that the strongest; wire fences are those 

 with panels of from 10 to 12 feet, experience has also shown that fences 

 strong enough to resist all reasonable strains can be erected with panels of 

 much greater width, provided suitable droppers are used. The extra cost 

 involved in erecting a fence with narrow panels where fencing timber is 

 expensive or difficult to obtain is therefore not always justified. In general, 

 if posts are comparatively cheap and plentiful panels can be made about 

 12 feet apart, but where posts are not easily obtainable the panels should be 

 made wider, and droppers used instead. The limit to the width of panels is 

 still a subject of controversy. Frequently they are made 22 or 33 feet in 

 width, and in some cases even 1 chain. It is practically agreed, however, 

 that 22 feet is a very suitable width, and unless posts are very expensive that 

 is the panel which should be adopted. 



When wide panels are used it is essential to use droppers, and it is the 

 difficulty experienced in securing good droppers at reasonable prices which 

 makes many landholders reluctant to erect fences with wide panels. 



A number of different types of steel droppers have been placed on the 

 market, but a perfect steel dropper has not yet been devised. Defects that 

 are commonly found are lack of strength and ineffectiveness of the bold 

 which the dropper has upon the wire, the result being that the dropper shifts 

 and fails to serve its purpose. 



The wooden dropper of about 2 inches by 1 inch hardwood is undoubtedly 

 the most satisfactory. Its greater efficiency should lead to preference being 

 given to it, provided the cost is not unduly greater than the steel dropper. 

 Wooden droppers are used by the Railway Commissioners, and their fences 

 are models of efficiency. 



Timber for Posts. 



While certain kinds of timbers are undoubtedly the best for fencing, 

 choice is limited by the kinds available in the vicinity of the area to be 

 fenced. As a rule, too, more than one kind is available. Moreover, in 

 many districts timbers are available which are useless for fencing purposes, 

 and care must therefore be exercised in making a selection. Careful local 

 inquiry should be made in regard t> this point. In Section I of this Hand- 

 book, "Farm Lands of New South Wales," details are given of the timbers 

 suitable for fencing purposes that are available in the different districts. 



The chief points to be considered are strength and resistance to decay and 

 to the attacks of white ants, and also to fire. Size is also an important con- 

 sideration, though this depends on the kind of timber used, and upon the 

 age of the tree from which the posts are cut. As a rule small trees are 

 sappy and decay quickly, and therefore the most desirable size is about 8 

 inches by 4 inches. Posts of this size are strong and usually durable. 



