182 THE farmers' handbook. 



The actual details of making the posts will vary according to the facilities 

 available on different farms. Tf desired the moulds can be made in sets, 

 and several posts made at a time. Under certain circumstances this plan 

 will perhaps be found the most suitable, but for continuous work it is 

 believed thajt making a single post in a collapsible mould will be found the 

 better plan. If a single collapsible mould be used, it can be removed much 

 sooner, and with less risk of injury to the post, than if a compound mould 

 be used. 



The gate, straining-posts, and struts were made in a similar way to the 

 ordinary posts, in moulds of the proper size. In each case stronger re- 

 inforcing rods of f-inch round iron were used. It is believed that the §-inch 

 reinforcing rods in the struts or stays could be replaced with |-inch rods 

 without unduly weakening them. 



The holes for the hooks of the hinges were made in the gate-posts by 

 placing the hooks or gudgeons to be used in their relative position in the" 

 moulds. The tops of the gate-posts were rounded by placing a block of wood 

 the required shape at the head of the mould. 



The straining-posts are 7 feet 9 inches long, with a cross section of 

 8 inches x 6 inches. At 1 foot 10 inches from the top, a slight rectangular 

 recess is moulded obliquely in the centre of one of the narrower sides for the 

 reception of the end of the stay or strut. The straining-posts are placed 

 3 feet 6 inches in the ground. 



The stays or struts are 9 feet long, with a cross section of -t inches x 3 

 inches. 



The appearance of the posts is improved if, after completion, they are given 

 a coat of thin cement wash, made by mixing cement thinly with water. 



The cost of fencing-posts made of concrete will depend upon the local cost 

 of the material used. It is estimated that where suitable gravel and sand is 

 easily obtainable concrete fencing-posts can be made for about Is. each 

 (labour and material). Fencing-posts of the dimensions given require about 

 18 lb. of cement, which at Cowra Farm cost about 8d. With sufficient 

 moulds available, it is believed that a man could make about 100 posts per 

 day. 



The experience gained with the short line of fence referred to suggests 

 very distinctly that concrete is a suitable material for fencing-posts in this 

 climate. Concrete posts do not require specially skilled labour to make : 

 they are neat, efficient, and durable, being unaffected by white ants or rot, 

 and probably also by bush fires. Their first cost, however (about Is.) makes 

 their use uneconomical in districts where wooden posts are still easily 

 obtainable. Concrete gate-posts are a decided advantage over wooden ones. 

 Unsightly cracks do not appear in them, nor do they require painting 

 regularly to keep them neat and in good order. 



The experience thus obtained with concrete posts at Cowra Experiment 

 Farm goes to show that they are sufficiently strong to withstand all ordinary 

 shocks. Th^y have the great advantages of being indestructible by fire, and 

 of not decaying like wooden posts. 



