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THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



LOOM FOB WEAV- 

 ING IN SLATS. 



others about thirty-two inches higher up. These are not 

 stapled to the posts but are stretched tight enough to keep them 

 to their place. As the tension will need to be changed as the 

 work progresses, it is a good plan to attach the 

 wires to a sled loaded with stone, and by moving 

 the sled either way the tension can be increased 

 or lessened. It is advisable that the wires run on 

 the side of the posts next the prevailing winds. 

 After the wires are in place the slats are woven 

 in by means of a simple implement called a 

 loom, and shown in the cut. It will be 

 seen that by taking hold of the lever at the 

 top and giving a half turn the wires will be 

 made to cross each other, and then by reversing 

 the motion you cross them back again. 



The secret of making a good fence of this 

 kind is to have every slat driven tight and 

 snug, so that the cracks are of uniform width 

 -and there shall be no chance for a slat to work loose, 

 for if one slat gets out it allows the rest to slip, and the fence soon 

 becomes shaky. A friend of mine who was inexperienced in 

 making this fence, thought he could save a slat at each post, and 

 so left wide cracks where the fence passed the posts, and soon 

 found it coming to pieces. For the same reason the slats should 

 be seasoned and dry. If you make the fence of green lumber 

 the seasoning process will be likely to shrink them so that the 

 fence will become loose, and the slats work out. After the 

 slats are woven in you attach the fence to the posts by passing 

 a loop of wire around each post at the top, letting it cross 

 the two wires through which the slats pass, including one slat, 

 and securing it by a staple. Where a crack comes opposite a 

 post, so you can staple the wires to it, do so ; and whenever a 

 slat comes fairly against the post put in one or two good fence 

 nails. It is a good plan in building this fence to have a piece 

 of board on the ground to set the slats on, so as to keep 

 the fence level. It seems to me that with these instructions a 

 novice can successfully build this fence. 



