160 THE farmers' handbook. 



.Some classes of trees, however — notably, the buddah of the western country 

 — are extremely durable and strong, and post of 4 inches to 5 inches 

 diameter arc quite satisfactory. 



Struts. 



A quite common defect in the construction of a wire fence is that of 

 placing the strut too near the top of the post, and consequently at too great 

 an angle with the line of fence; the result is that when the wires are strained 

 the post is pulled out of the ground. In order to prevent this happening, 

 various plans are tried, the least effectual of which is that of weighting the 

 post, as shown in the illustration (Fig. 2). Placed as the strut is in the 

 illustration it is practically doing no good, as can be seen. 



Another, and more effectual method adopted by some is to place two long 

 struts, one on each side of the wires. This is unnecessarily cumbersome 

 and costly, when the same result can be obtained by placing the end of the 

 single strut lower down on the post, but not lower than half-way. The 

 longer the strut the hetter it will do the w r ork it is intended to do. 



Wire. 



In cattle districts strong wire is required, and No. 8 gauge should be used. 

 In districts where sheep are kept a greater number of wires in the fence i> 

 required, and the usual practice is to use a heavy guage (No. 8) for the two 

 top wires, and a smaller gauge (principally No. 10) for those below. In 

 recent years a strong galvanised steel wire, No. 12 gauge, has been placed on 

 the market ; it has given excellent results, and is economical. In inland 

 districts, black No. 8 or No. 10 is generally used, but in coastal districts, 

 where the air is humid, galvanised wire is most satisfactory, owing to its 

 immunity from rust. 



Wire-netting. 



The rabbit pest has made wire-netting absolutely essential on most 

 holdings in western districts, on the tableland, and on portions of the coast. 

 Netting is classified according to the gauge of the wire, the width of the 

 netting, and the size of the mesh. It is generally recognised by experienced 

 landholders that to make a fence rabbit-proof, a galvanized netting, No. 17 

 gauge, 42 inches wide, and 1^ inch mesh, should be used. When placed in 

 position, the height will be sufficient to stop rabbits, while a gauge of No. 1 7 

 insures long life to the wire. Tying-wire of No 1G gauge is usually used to 

 attach the netting to the supporting wire, which must be of No. 8 gauge. 



Barbed Wire. 



The use of barbed wire very largely increases the efficiency of any fence 

 to which it is attached. Objections are sometimes raised to it on account of 

 the injuries occasionally caused to stock, but these injuries are, in most 

 cases, brought about by misuse. For boundary or ordinary subdivision fence 

 it is very useful, and the likelihood of stock being injured is very remote, 

 provided it is kept reasonably well strained. Barbed wire should never be 

 used in yard fences, or in fences where horses congregate, such as near 

 stables, as in the fighting or playing which goes on amongst them, there is 

 great danger of the animals being badly torn. 



Barbed win- is most dangerous when it is allowed to lie around loose, or is 

 allowed to become very slack in the fences. It cannot be condemned, 

 however, merely because a few people are grossly careless in its use. 



