OF FENCES, AND GATES. 49 



per to give a curve to the clump, that the plough may be 

 turned more easily ; and one pond, properly placed, will 

 water four fields. * 



It is well known how expensive it is found in England, 

 to make fences in new inclosures, owing to the price of 

 posts and palings. That difficulty, however, is obviated by 

 a plan adopted by William Forbes, Esq. of Callander, 

 in the county of Stirling, of which he gives the following 

 account. 



Mr Forbes first causes a ditch to be cast five feet wide, 

 and three feet deep. The mound is between four and five 

 feet broad at the base, and of the same height. In this 

 mound, with a margin of one foot back from the ditch, the 

 hedge is planted. Beyond the mound a second ditch is cut 

 three feet wide and two feet deep, or as deep as the bank 

 can be made to stand. The whole fence, including the two 

 ditches, occupies the space of about fourteen feet. By the 

 time the hedge becomes a fence, the ditches are filled up 

 completely by the earth of the mound, so that no ground is 

 lost. 



Mr Forbes also sometimes incloses the face of the mound, 

 in which the hedge is planted, with turf on both sides, the 

 height being four feet aad a half, which in the course of a 

 year settles at four feet. This mound is soon covered over 

 with a sward of grass, and at the same time that it is most 

 efficient, it forms the most beautiful fence. The width of 

 this mound at bottom, is five feet; at top it is from 12 to 

 14 inches. By the time that the hedge has become a fence, 

 the mound forms an excellent top-dressing, the ditches arc 



* The clumps in the engraving, are proportionably to the fields, on a 

 larger scale, than necessary, when this plan is carried into execution, 



VOL. i. 



