4-6 OF FENCES, AND GATES. 



obtaining lime at a moderate expence, by which the con- 

 struction of the wall can be so much improved, and render- 

 ed much more durable. Where all these advantages are 

 combined, stone walls, though not so ornamental as hedges, 

 yet are preferable in point of utility ; for the benefit of the 

 inclosure is immediate. 



Among the various sorts of stone wall usual in Scotland, 

 there is one, known under the name of the Galloway or 

 snap-dike, of which it may be proper to give some account. 

 It was invented in that district, and thence has spread 

 over various other parts of the kingdom. Mr Smith, in 

 his very able survey of Galloway, has given the following 

 description of this species of wall : It is built, for the most 

 part, two-thirds or three-fourths of its height double, i. e. 

 the two sides are formed of two different sets of stones, 

 resting against each other, and connected together by 

 stones, which from time to time are laid across the dike. 

 On the top of this double dike, a set of long stones are laid 

 horizontally across the dike, projecting a little on each 

 side ; and above these, the remainder is built single, which, 

 from the irregular figure of the stones, leaves apertures 

 through which the light appears.* There was a great im- 

 provement on this mode of fencing invented by the late 

 John Macadam, Esq. of Craigengillan, by putting on the 

 top of the dike, as close as they can be laid together, stones 

 placed edgewise ; and when a considerable extent has been 

 thus laid, thin stones are driven in, like wedges, at small 

 intervals, which bind the whole so firmly together, that, 

 when well built, a stone can hardly be taken out of the top 

 without an iron-crow.f 



* General View of Agriculture of Galloway, by the Reverend Samuel 

 Smith, p. 83. 

 + Ditto, p. 87. 



