EARTH STOPPING, ARTlFlCIAIy EARTHS, &c. 



should be so arranged that "beds" or lying 

 places are left near the middle. Near the en- 

 trances the stuff should be laid so as to exclude 

 as much draught as possible, and to keep the in- 

 terior dark. The walls and interior being com- 

 pleted, smaller logs, roots, etc., should be placed 

 so as to cover the open spaces or " beds," and 

 prevent the next layer of stuff from filling them 

 in. A trench is then dug round the heap, about 

 3ft. from the latter ; and each entrance is tem- 

 porarily stopped with a block of wood. Strong 

 thorns about 3ft. high are then stuck in the 

 trench all round, and the space between them and 

 the wall of the heap is filled in with thorns or 

 hedge-trimmings. These help to keep out both 

 draught and light. Over the whole thing is 

 next laid a few loads of strong thorns, built up 

 until the heap is about 8ft. or 9 ft. high. After 

 this has been done, the blocks which have pre- 

 vented the entrances from becoming filled up, 

 may be withdrawn. The heap is then finished, 

 wdth the exce|)tion of fencing it off on the two 

 sides facing the field. 



In order to bolt foxes from a stick-heap, a short 

 ladder and some 8ft. poles should be kept at the 

 nearest cottage or fai*mhouse. If these are left 

 lying near the heap, they may tempt farm hands 

 and others to disturb the foxes. To bolt a fox 

 three or four men mount the ladder, and get on to 

 the top of the heap. They then work in line 

 towards the entrances, pushing the poles down 

 through the thorns, and rattling them against 

 the roots below. Sometimes a fox refuses to 

 bolt at the first time of asking, but a second or 

 even a third prodding generally works the 

 oracle. Should a fox bolt early in the pro- 

 ceedings, the pole-men should at once get off 



103 



