THE FARM HOLDING. 165 



The single-rail fence (Fig. 6), with three, four, or rive wires beneath the 

 rail, is very suitable, and is popular in some districts for enclosing town 

 and suburban allotments. With the increasing scarcity of timber, it is now 

 being used in many situations and for purposes for which, formerly, only a 

 two or three rail fence would have been considered suitable. 



With or without wires, it is a suitable fence on hillside roads, to act as 

 a lia.rrier at dangerous places, to prevent travellers leaving the mail. 





Fig. 6.— Top-rail and wire fence ; eight posts per chain. 



The construction of the three kinds of rail fence is very similar. The 

 following specification, which is suitable for many localities, will serve as a 

 basis for those who contemplate erecting fences of this description : — 



Specification for Rail Fences. 



All fencing is to be on and in the proper line. The posts when erected are 

 to be straight, uniform, upright, and in line along the tops; they are 

 not to follow the lesser irregularities of the ground. 



Timber. — White and yellow box or other approved timber may be used in 

 the construction of the fence. 



All timber is to be taken from large trees. It is to be thoroughly 

 sound, free from splinters and other defects, barked arid straight. All 

 measurements specified to mean at the smallest dimensions. 



Posts. — All posts are to be sawn square on the top, and when erected are to 

 have the earth placed properly around them and well rammed. The 

 distance between posts is to be 8 ft. 3 in. from centre to centre. 



Split posts are to be 6 feet 6 inches long, and to be 9 inches wide and 

 3i inches thick. They are to be placed 24 inches in the ground, and 

 are to be mortised as per gauge herewith with holes 6 in. x 3 in. 



Eound posts for corners and ends are to be 7 feet long, and not less 

 than 12 inches in diameter; they are to be placed 2 ft. 6 in. in the 

 ground, and are to be mortised as per gauge herewith. The mortises 

 are to be 6 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 6 inches deep. 



Rails. — The rails are to be 9 feet long, 8 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. 

 The tenons on ends of rails are to be 6 inches long, adzed carefully to 

 fit into the mortises; they are to be shouldered and finished so as to 

 fill the mortise and to butt up to the posts. 



