304 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



centre ; the workman then carries his wooden frame 

 some distance along the line to be built upon, and sets 

 it upright by means of a plumb-line attached to it. 

 By the aid of an inclined piece of wood and a stone he 



FORMATION Of A DRY STONE WALL. 



keeps it in this position, and then proceeds to set up 

 another similar frame at the place where the wall is to 

 commence. Cords ai-e then stretched between the two 

 frames, on the outside, corresponding to the intended 

 outer surface of the wall ; these serve as a guide to the 

 workmen in building it. When a part of the wall is 

 finished, one of the frames is laid aside as no longer 

 necessary, and the cords are afterwards fastened to both 

 sides of the wall, and then attached to the frame in 

 advance, which continues to be the guide as to the 

 height and dimensions of the wall. 



The foundation of a dry stone fence should always be 

 laid on solid ground ; and if there is no green sward to 

 build on, the loose earth may be removed with a spade, 

 and the wall built on the more compact soil underneath. 

 The largest and flattest stones are laid at the bottom ; 

 and if there are some of sufficient size to stretch across 

 the breadth of the wall, these may be inserted at inter- 

 vals, and will make it more secure. The tools used in 

 making such a wall are the spade, pickaxe, and mason's 

 hammer : with these the ground is prepared, and the 

 stones are fitted and beaten in. At the top of the wall 

 a coping is formed either of turf-sods or of large stones 

 closely built and cemented with mortar. 



