17-1 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



With regard to colours, tastes differ, but judging by results, white, in this 

 climate, seems to give the most satisfaction, and a first-class quality of 

 white paint is a mixture of white lead and oil. Painting the ironwork 

 (hinges) black will make a slight contrast, and will rather add to the 

 appearance of the gateway. 



The gate-posts should be quite separate and distinct from posts used in the 

 construction of the fence. A better effect is obtained without additional 

 trouble if they are slightly higher than the uprights in the gate, and also 

 higher than the fence-posts adjoining the gateway. The main entrance to the 

 farm, and also the gateways around the dwelling, may be still further 

 improved if a little additional trouble be taken to square the gate-posts and 

 round off the tops. The amount of improvement effected by this may be 

 judged from a comparison of the illustrations (Figs. 12 and 13). The four 

 posts in the gateways shown were practically identical as they left the bush. 

 The cost of trimming is not very great. 



Squaring a Gate-post* 



For a gate-post, a bushman likes to have a perfectly sound log. He is not 

 always able to secure this, and Often ba.s to be content with one containing a 

 small hollow or "pipe," which may be plugged up when the squaring is 

 completed. 



Fig. 14.— The log barked ready for squaring. 



A log with a straight free-running grain is the more easily worked, but one 

 with a curly grain is the more durable. 



A suitable tree having been chosen and felled, and the necessary logs 

 having been cut off, the first operation consists in removing the bark ; the 

 sooner this and the subsequent operations are done after falling, the easier 

 they will be. 



The tools necessary for squaring a log are — an American axe, a squaring or 

 road axe, a level with a plumbing bulb, a rule or measure, a pencil, a line 

 or string, and some chalk or other material for coating the string so that it 

 will make a mark on the log. 



For the sake of stability, as large a butt as is possible is left on the gate- 

 post ; only that portion, therefore, which is to stand above the ground is 

 squared. The length of this portion is measured off, and the log fixed so 



* J. Wm. Chapman, Cowra Experiment Farm. 



