FENCING. 27 



WOODEN PALINGS. 



Various descriptions of wooden palings are also in 

 use, and serve very good purposes in places where they 

 are found suitable. 



A common paling is constructed as follows : The 

 line of fence having been resolved upon, and guide- 

 poles set up at convenient distances apart along the 

 line, a garden-line is stretched between the poles, and 

 the posts are driven into the ground or pitted as de- 

 scribed for wire fencing, page 20, but not more than 

 about 4J feet apart. The posts are driven to about 3 

 feet above ground, and their tops made to run at one 

 uniform level, according to the inclination of the ground. 

 The upper rail is next nailed on, and is kept about 1 J 

 inch below the top of the posts. The rails are sawn 

 out in lengths of about 16 to 18 feet, 3J to 4 inches 

 broad, and 1J- to 1J inch thick, according as strength 

 is required. On nailing on the rails they are not 

 necessarily joined on the post, but at any other con- 

 venient place, and are overlapped about 8 inches, so 

 that two nails can be driven into each joining to keep 

 it secure. The next rail is put on 9 inches clear be- 

 tween it and the upper one, and the next one 7 inches 

 below that, which leaves a space of 6 J inches between 

 it and the ground. When a four-bar paling is required 

 instead of a three-bar one, the fence is about 4 inches 

 higher, and the rails kept respectively 1 inch closer. 



The cost of erecting a three-bar paling, including 

 materials and workmanship, varies from 4d. to 6d. per 

 yard, according to quality of wood, &c. 



