88 FOEESTRY WORK 



heaps at the side of the drains and mixed with the peaty 

 soil at the time of planting. This will help to aerate the 

 peat and to set free nitrogen by hastening the decay of 

 the raw humus. 



When very deep moorpan is met with, that cannot be 

 reached by subsoil ploughs, the drains must be cut deep 

 enough to enable it to be smashed by crowbars. 



Fencing. 



Fences round plantations should be cheap, but strong 

 and lasting. To erect a very expensive fence or to spend 

 a lot on subsequent repairs is to reduce the profit on the 

 timber at the end of a rotation. For economical reasons, 

 too, as large an area as possible should be fenced at one 

 time, even if it is not possible to plant aU the ground in 

 one year; for the larger the area, the cheaper will be the 

 cost per acre. 



For instance, 1 square acre requires approximately 

 280 yards of fencing and 4 acres, 560 yards. Thus it will 

 only cost twice as much to fence four times the area. 



At one time drystone and turf dykes were erected, and 

 although very useful as shelter, these fences cost too 

 much to erect and maintain. For the same reason iron- 

 bar fences are seldom erected round plantations. 



The principal fences in use at present are — 



Post and rail morticed fencing. 

 Driven stob and rail fencing. 

 Driven stob and wire fencing. 

 Iron standards and wire fencing. 



Wire-netting fencet;. 



