THE FAUM HOLDING. 



is;, 



1ml:. _!> shows how two rails gave 

 way when a mob of cattle became 

 frightened. These are compara- 

 tively new yards. Split timber is 

 much stronger than sawn timber, 

 ami therefore for such purposes as 

 stockyards the split hardwood is 

 better than sawn, because the grain 

 is not broken so often. Here 

 strength has been sacrificed for 

 neatness. 



Fig. 28 



Fig. 29 is an example of using rails 

 out of all proportion to the strength 

 of the posts; the former have also 

 been weakened by cutting away 

 such a large amount for the tenon. 



Attention to some of the points 

 enumerated above relating to the 

 construction of stockyards, may 

 avoid the annoying occurrences of 

 wild stock breaking away at, say, 

 branding-time, through a weak rail 

 being broken by the animals in their 

 caperings round the yard, to say 

 nothing of loss through broken 

 limbs when they essay to jump out 

 of a yard through an opening left 

 by a broken rail. 



Fig. 29 



How to Lay Timbers for Flooring. 



Slabs of pine and old railway sleepers are frequently used as flooring for 

 stables and cow-bails on farms and stations. At times they are not used to 

 the best advantage, and consequently are heavy with the smell of urine, no 

 matter how the attendant may try to keep the place clean. 



Fig. 30 represents logs showing 

 the rings plainly. 



If the logs were placed as in 

 Fig. 30a, urine would find its way 

 through the space of the rings when 

 the logs were seasoned, and there 

 set up decomposition, decay, and 

 an objectionable odour. Obviously 

 they should be set as in Fig. 30b. 



Fig. 30. 



As milk absorbs odours very readily it is necessary that cow-bails should 

 be as free from bad smells as possible. The same thing applies to the 

 decking of bridges and culverts. If placed as in Fig. 30a, rain would find 

 its way into the rings, and, when evaporated by the sun, would cause 

 warping and, consequently, weakening of the timber for traffic. 



