OF FENCES, AND GATES. 51 



alternate husbandry of tillage and pasturage, it is an excel- 

 lent rule, when the fields are broken up, to cut down the 

 hedges, in order to admit the wind. In this case they may 

 be cut down according to circumstances, either to about six 

 inches from the ground, or to between three to four feet, 

 the former if the hedge is thin, the latter if of sufficient thick- 

 ness. In the former case, all gaps ought to be carefully 

 filled up by planting. In the latter case, the breast or face, 

 is shorn to the stem. Gaps are best filled up, not by plant- 

 ing, but by laying down branches in the gap, which take 

 root. 



In regard to gates for farming purposes, they ought to 

 be strong and durable. The pillars or gate-posts, where 

 blocks can be had of good quality and sufficient size, are 

 often made of a single stone, being greatly preferable to 

 timber, as not liable to rot. Sometimes round pillars are 

 built of stone and lime, at other times oak, or larch, are 

 employed, being more durable than even foreign fir, and 

 sometimes living trees, of a proper size, are transplanted, 

 with their roots, and are found to answer. 



An excellent material for a field gate, is sound red fir, 

 which is not very heavy, and is not liable to rot for some- 

 time. Of late, cast-iron gates have been constructed in 

 Scotland, which can be made fully as light as those of wood, 

 and may be manufactured to any extent. 



Gates are sometimes folding, consisting of two parts, 

 which is necessary in wide spaces, where one gate, occupy- 

 ing the whole, would be too large and heavy ; but the swing- 

 gate, which turns on hinges at one side, and fastens by a 

 latch at the other, and may occasionally be shut with a pad- 

 lock and chain, is the most common in fences. 



Some improvements in the construction of gates, have 

 been suggested by Mr Menteath of Closeburn, and Mr 



