PBEPARING THE PLANTING AREA 91 



Driven Post and Bail Fencing. 



For this style of fence the rails are usually 12 feet long 

 by 3| inches by 1| inches, and for a fence 8 feet 9 inches 

 above ground the posts should be 5 feet 6 inches long for 

 Btiff soils or 6 feet for loose ones. The section of these 

 may be either 3 inches by 3 inches or 4 inches by 8 inches, 

 the latter being better, as there is more room to joint the 

 rails upon. The ends of the rails may be sphced or made 

 to fit square in the centre of the post. 



The posts or stobs are pointed at the lower end to make 

 driving more easUy done. 



In erecting the fence a hole is first punched by the use 

 of a crowbar, which is driven in and worked about until 

 a hole is made large enough to admit the point of the 

 stob. The latter is then driven in to the required depth 

 by means of a " mall," or driving hammer. In some 

 districts a very heavy hammer is used (20 to 28 pounds), 

 the user standing in a barrow, lifting the hammer up and 

 allowing it to drop on to the post, but few of these are 

 to be seen in use now. The work of lifting this heavy 

 weight is not compensated for by the force it strikes the 

 post. 



The most useful hammer is one weighing about 14 or 

 16 pounds. 



With a heavy hammer it is not possible to put any 

 strength, or " pith," behind the blow, while with a very 

 hght one too much strength is required. To use the 

 mall to the best advantage and least waste of strength, 

 it should first be rested on top of the stob, and from this 



