FARM BUILDINGS, FENCES, GATES 159 



is an advantage to let them lie until the leaves draw the water from the 

 sap, thus leaving the starch to preserve the wood. At a convenient season 

 the trees may be cut into posts and the posts set on end to further cure. 

 Posts cut in this way last much longer than when the trees are cut in 

 the winter or spring. 



The interval between posts in fence construction depends on the 

 size of the posts, the depth to which they can be conveniently set, the 

 weight or strength of the wire and the strain to which it will be subjected. 



A GOOD TYPE OF FARM FENCE. l 



It will often prove economical to alternate small posts with large ones. 

 With exceptionally good strong posts, the intervals may be as much as 

 from 25 to 30 feet. The usual distance, however, will be from 15 to 

 20 feet. 



Woven wire should be stapled to the posts so that the wire will move 

 freely beneath the staple. With barbed wire the staples may be driven 

 tightly so as to prevent the wire from slipping. The length of the staples 

 used and the number per post depend on the hardness of the post and 

 the number of wires. With woven wire it will usually be sufficient to 

 staple alternate wires at each post, although the top and bottom wire 

 should be stapled at every post. When so stapled, the staples should 



1 Courtesy of The American Steel and Wire Co. 



