90 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



the stakes one from another is about three paces, and the 

 shepherd drives them in with a mallet, generally made 

 of the wood of the apple-tree, because it is not liable to 



THE SHEPHERD'S MALLET. 



split. The tops of the stakes must stand at an equal 

 height of four feet ; and when all are driven in, the shep- 

 herd takes a net rolled up in a bundle, and fastening 

 the top and bottom ropes to the first stake, he unrolls 

 the bundle as he goes to the second stake, keeping 

 inside the intended fold. He fastens the rope to the 

 second, and to all the succeed- 

 ing stakes, by what is called the 

 shepherd's knot, making the 

 bottom one fast at three inches 

 from the ground, and the other 

 nearly at the top of the stake, 

 and at the same time stretching 

 THE SHEPHERD'S KNOT. the net evenly. In this way he 

 goes from stake to stake until the whole is set up. When 

 one length of net is used up, he takes another and 

 laces the meshes of the two nets together with a piece 

 of string. 



The cheapness and convenience of nets would no 

 doubt bring them into general use, were it not for the 

 care required to keep them in order. If they are put 

 up in a damp state, and the weather be dry, they will 

 slacken so much in drying as to hang in bags, or slip 

 down the stakes ; and if, on the other hand, the ropes 

 and twine be properly dried, and damp weather follow 

 upon setting up the fold, unless allowance is made for 



