PBEPARING THE PLANTING AREA 103 



A device which is often suocessful in clearing rabbits 

 out of a netted plantation is to place two or three light 

 poles in a sloping direction from the ground to the top 

 of the corner posts, and cover them with turf. Babbits 

 seeking their way through the wire-netting from the inside 

 will run along close to the fence and up this pathway 

 and will jump off at the top to the outside of the plantation. 



Iron standards and posts should be tarred every three 

 years or so. 



Plantation Gates. 



In plantation fences against stock, gates equally strong 

 must be hung; but where wire-netting alone is used, ones 

 of lighter make are sufficient. 



A strong stock gate, 9 feet long overall can be made 

 with the back post or heel 5 inches by 4 inches, and the 

 front post or head 4 inches by 3 inches morticed to hold 

 four rails. The top rails taper from 4 inches by 2| inches 

 at the heel to 3 inches by 2| inches at the head, the other 

 three rails being 3| inches by 1| inches. 



The diagonal and two upright supports are of the same 

 thickness. The head, heel, and top bar are of Oak, the 

 remainder being either of Larch or Scots Pine (creosoted). 



An all-iron gate, with head, heel, and top bar of 

 1| inches T iron and the other bars of 1| inches flat iron, 

 is both cheap and efficient. All bars are riveted together, 

 making it strong and rigid. With a barbed wire on the 

 top bar to prevent cattle from rubbing against it, this 

 gate will outlast most wooden gates. Made by loeal 

 blacksmiths, it cost about 18s. (pre-war price). 



