THE FARM HOLDING. 1<>7 



difficult to procure, and where straight saplings are plentiful, a very similar 

 fence can be built with round posts and straight saplings for rails. A fence 

 of this description, when painted white, adds considerably to the attractive- 

 ness of the home. 



The particulars of the construction of the fence illustrated are as follows : — 

 The posts are hardwood (ironbark), 5 ft. 6 in. long, 6 inches wide and 

 4 inches thick, placed 2 feet in the ground and set 9 feet apart. The rails 

 are hardwood, 4 in. x 4 in., laid edge upwards in notches cut in the tops 

 of the ordinary posts and mortised into the end and corner posts. 



The rails are secured to the ordinary posts with hoop-iron No. 10 gauge 

 straps, 2 feet long by 2 inches wide, bolted to the posts with two 7 in. x \ in. 

 bolts. 



Six inches beneath the rail, rabbit-proof netting is attached by clips to 

 three plain galvanized wires, which are secured to the outside edge of the 

 posts by tying wire, which passes through a hole 2 inches from the edge of the 

 post. With this plan of fixing the plain wires, the netting can be strained 

 as tight and as flat as a board, and when secured presents, as may be seen 

 from the illustration, a neat, even, flat surface. 



Sheep and Pig-proof fences. 



A useful subdivision fence where pigs or crossbred sheep are kept is con- 

 structed as follows : — Posts, three to the chain, 22 inches in the ground and 

 4 feet 2 inches out; bored on the edge for five wires, which are attached to 

 the side of the posts by tie wires that pass through the holes in the post. To 

 the three bottom wires is attached 2 feet 6 inches netting, 4-inch mesh, gauge 



15 or stouter. One wire is attached to the posts along the ground, one about 

 the middle of the netting, and one at the top. Two galvanized barbed wires 

 are spaced between the top of the netting and the top of the post, and two 

 to three droppers are used , between the posts. A steel fencing wire, 

 No. 8 gauge, is preferable for the top of the netting, and No. 10 wire for the 

 middle of the netting. The netting is attached to the wire by No. 14 tie 

 wire, and the wire to the posts by No. 12 tie wire. 



Sheep and Cattle-proof Wire Fences. 



A very effective sheep and cattle proof wire fence can be erected with posts 

 22 feet apart, using two droppers between the posts, or, if it is desired to 

 still further reduce the number of posts, with panels of 33 feet, using three 

 droppers in the panel. It is essential, however, that the droppers shall be 

 strong, and, therefore, wooden droppers, if procurable at a reasonable price, 

 should be used. The fence posts should be placed 2 feet in the ground 

 and 3 feet 10 inches out. The straining posts should be 3 feet in the 

 ground and well strutted. The wire should be spaced as follows, measured 

 from the ground : — Six inches, 12 inches, 18 inches, 25 inches, 34 inches, and 



16 inches. 



Sometimes the barbed wire is placed on the top of the posts, but where 

 cattle are to be controlled greater efficiency is obtained by making it the fifth 

 wire, as cattle as a rule feed through and not over a fence. If only horses 

 are to be controlled, the barbed wire can be placed at the top, as horses 

 generally reach over a fence to feed. 



The barbed wire is frequently attached to the outside of the posts, and 

 held in position by a No. 12 tic wire, run through a hole bored in the fence. 

 This method is very effective in protecting a crop which adjoins a grazing 



