Book IV. PALING FENCES. 4W 



other works of wood, to paint them at a small expense. Other very good remedies are 

 to be had at a moderate price, as the pyrolignous acid from gasworks, which, if the points 

 of the standards that are to be driven into the earth are dipped into it while the liquor is 

 boilin"- hot, will preserve them from the bad effects of moisture for a very long time. 

 Previously to the dipping, they should be properly sharpened, and that part which is 

 to enter the ground, or even the entire post if convenient, moderately charred or burnt. 

 Common tar, melted pitch, or gas liquor, may also be successfully employed for the 

 purpose of defending the extremities of the upright parts of paling from moisture ; 

 linseed and train oils may also be used with success ; the great object being to fill 

 the pores completely with some unctuous or greasy matter, or contract them by partial 

 charring, so as to prevent the admission of moisture. The posts should be completely dry 

 before they are dipped in any of these preparations : for if they are either made of green 

 wood, or have imbibed much moisture, or after being dipped are exposed either to the heat 

 of the sun or to a severe frost, the moisture will become so much expanded thereby, as to 

 burst through, and bring off the paint or other coating ; whereas, when they are made of 

 well seasoned wood, and are at the same time perfectly dry, and the pitch, oil, or varnish 

 boiling hot, it readily enters the pores, and, by filling them completely, prevents the access 

 of moisture, and consequently the injurious effects produced by it. 



3040. The simple nailed paling consists of upright posts, driven or set into the earth at 

 certain distances, and crossed in three, four, or more places, with pieces of wood in a 

 horizontal direction. This paling is for the most part made of coarse sawn wood, with- 

 out any dressing. 



3041. The jointed horizontal paling consists of massy square poles, driven or set into the 

 earth at regular distances, through which mortices or openings are cut for the reception 

 of the extremities of the horizontal pieces which traverse them. 



3042. The upright lath paling is made by driving or setting a number of strong piles 

 into the earth at regular distances, and crossing these at top and bottom with horizontal 

 pieces of equal strength ; upon these last are nailed, at from six to twelve inches' distance, 

 a number of square pieces of sawn wood, of the shape and size of the laths used for the 

 roofs of tiled houses. This sort of paling, when properly executed, looks very well, and, 

 notwithstanding its apparent slightness, if well supported by props or rests at regular 

 intervals, lasts a long time. Where there are plantations of young firs in the neighbour- 

 hood, laths may be had at a trifling expense. 



3043. The horizontal paling of young jirs, or the weedings of other young trees, may be 

 had recourse to with advantage upon estates with extensive woods, or surrounded with 

 belts of thriving plants; the thinnings of such woods or belts being highly valuable for 

 making palings, especially when the plantation consists chiefly of firs. The palings of 

 young firs are of two kinds, either horizontal or upright. The horizontal resembles the 

 jointed dressed paling already described, and the upright is similar to the lath paling. 



3044. The chain horizontal fence is made by fixing a number of strong square piles 

 into the earth at regular distances, in the direction in which the fence is to run ; each of 

 these piles has three strong staples or iron hooks driven into it on each side, one near 

 the top, one within eighteen inches of the bottom, and one in the middle ; to these staples 

 or hooks chains are fastened and stretched horizontally, in the same manner as the pieces 

 of wood are in a common horizontal wooden fence. When it is meant that the fence 

 should be laid open for any temporary purpose, hooks are driven into the posts in place 

 of staples, and the chains hung upon them ; but where this is not wanted, the staples will 

 be found the most secure method. In some cases the upright part of this fence, in place 

 of wooden piles, such as have been described, consists of neat pillars of mason-work or 

 cast iron. 



3045. The rope fence is nearly the same as the former, that is, it consists of upright 

 posts, driven into the earth at regular distances, with holes bored through them for the 

 passage of the ropes ; in general there are three, and in some cases four, courses of ropes. 

 This can only be used for confining cattle or horses; for sheep it will be found quite 

 incompetent ; for stretching across rivers, or pieces of water, like the chain fence, the 

 rope fence will be useful. 



3046. The movable wooden fence, flake, or hurdle. This has hitherto been principally 

 employed in cases where sheep or cattle are fed with turnips in the field, to separate a 

 certain portion of their food at a time ; in that way hurdles are extremely useful, as the 

 sheep or cattle, by having a given quantity of food allotted them at once, eat it clean up 

 without any loss, which they would not do if allowed to ranged at large over the whole 

 field. There are, however, many other purposes to which hurdles may be applied with 

 equal advantage. In the subdivision of gentlemen's parks, in order to subject them to a 

 course of aration, no fence is so suitable as the hurdle, which may be taken up and set 

 down at pleasure, and in a short time. This circumstance being generally known, these 

 fences never convey the idea of impassable barriers ; and, not being very common, they 

 are never considered vulgar. Were it not for their expense, they would be far preferable 



