162 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



Split posts are to be 6 feet 6 inches long-, and to have mean dimensions 

 which range between 7 inches wide by 5 inches thick, and 8 inches 

 wide by 4 inches thick. Centres are to be backed out to within 24 

 inches of the large end. No face is to be less than 4 inches, and one 

 edge is to be rough-dressed. 



Split posts are to be placed in the ground to a depfh of 24 inches. 



Round posts — Corner posts are to be 8 ft. 3 in. long, not less than 12 

 inches in diameter, and are to be placed 3 ft. 6 in. in the ground. 



Straining posts are to be 7 ft. 9 in. long, not less than 10 inches in 

 diameter, and are to be placed 3 feet in the ground. Straining posts 

 are to be erected at distances of about 7£ chains throughout the fence. 



Gate posts are to be 9 feet long, to be placed 4 feet in the ground in a 

 direct line with the fence. They are to be not less than 12 inches in 

 diameter. 



The tops of gate-posts in each gateway are to be level. 



Permanent struts are to be placed at all angles arid corners of fences 

 and at every second straining-post. They are to be firmly mortised 

 into the posts 22 inches from the top, and are to be firmly butted 

 against the adjoining post or against a short post placed in the ground 



Fig. 2. — An improperly-stayed_corner-qost. Note the stones piled against, ;he post in 

 a vain endeavour to keep it in the ground. 



to a depth of 2 feet, and situated at least 10 feet away from the bottom 

 of the post which they are supporting. Struts are to be not less than 

 6 inches in diameter. 



Gateways. — Four gateways are to be placed where directed. Gateways are 

 to be 15 ft. 6 in.* from gate-post to gate-post; the fence posts nearest 

 gateway are to be similar to corner posts. 



Between the gate-posts a sill, 10 inches in diameter, and flattened to 

 6 inches at the small end, is to be firmly bedded. The flat face is to be 

 level, and on a level with the ground on the high side of the gateway. 



• As most farmers use headers and other machinery of great width, a very wide' gate 

 way is required where the paddocks are under cultivation. 



