PLANTING 11 



when decay begins the plantation should supply 

 from thinnings materials for repairs. 



Local habit generally shows what is the most 

 convenient fence, but in the absence of some 

 good reason to the contrary a wire fence should 

 be adopted. The posts should be 8 feet apart, 

 2 feet 6 inches in the ground, and 5 feet above 

 the ground, of oak or larch preferably, and 

 felled near the proposed fence so that the cost 

 of haulage may be moderate. They should, if 

 possible, be barked a few months before erection 

 and allowed to season. Soft and perishable 

 wood can be used for fencing if creosoted. 

 Creosoted posts, concrete posts, or iron standards 

 can be used whenever there are no natural 

 posts available. The preference of either of 

 these depends on the price for which they can 

 be brought to the fence. The direction of a 

 new fence should be so laid out that it does not, 

 unless absolutely necessary, cross ground to 

 which the fencing materials can be carried only 

 by hand. 



A wooden rail at about 14 inches from the 

 ground binds the posts together and strengthens 

 the fence ; it also hinders sheep from pushing 

 through the wires. A barbed wire, with barbs 

 6 inches apart, is most useful when fixed as the 



