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THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



because it was on hand, and was considered to be stronger than the plain, 

 but from what has since been learned it is believed that the ordinary No. 6 

 plain wire, bent at the ends, would be quite strong enough for reinforcement. 



The wires are fixed to the posts, as shown in Fig. 2 3, by tying wire which 

 passes through holes in the post, and 2 inches from its face. These 

 holes are made when the post is moulded, by putting J-inch iron 

 rods through the sides and across the mould the required distance apart, i.e., 

 the distance necessary for the spacing of the wires. When the concrete sets, 

 the rods are withdrawn, leaving holes in the post. Two of the rods are in 

 the form of bolts, which on being screwed up hold the mould together, and 

 stiffen it, so that the mould will remain firm when the material is tamped. 



Where only plain wires are used on a fence, they can, if desired, be run 

 through the holes in the post, but because of the ease with which a broken 

 wooden or concrete post can be replaced, and because a much neater and 

 better job can be made when affixing netting, it is believed that the proper 

 method of affixing wires is by means of the tie- wires to the face of the post. 



The posts were moulded 

 singly in collapsible moulds. 

 The sides of the moulds were 

 of 1|- inch dressed cypress 

 pine, and were kept apart by 

 blocks 2 inches thick at each 

 end. The top block had two 

 small three-cornered fillets 

 tacked to it, in order to give 

 a bevel finish to the top of the 

 post. The moulds were held 

 together by three bolts, the top 

 and middle bolts being.placed 

 so that the holes, which were 

 left when they were with- 

 drawn, were at the required 

 distance apart to correspond 

 with the spacing required by 

 two of the wires in the fence. 



When making the post the 

 mould, after being cleaned 

 and greased, was placed on a 

 board, so that the back of 

 the post would be underneath, 

 and sufficient material in a 

 soft state to cover the bottom 

 about 1 inch deep was placed 

 therein. Two of the reinforc- 

 ing wires were then placed 

 on the concrete, at about 1 

 inch from each side, and ex- 

 tending from within 2 inches 

 of one end to the same distance from the other end. The mould was then 

 half filled, and the rods to make the holes for the fencing wires passed 

 through the sides. Material was then placed in the mould to within 1 inch 



Fig. 23.— Concrete Fencing Posts at Cowra 

 Experiment Farm. 



