GENERAL ECONOMY OF THE FARM. 



283 



Loose stones taken from the surface, termed land-stcnes, answer sufficiently 

 well, if they be of proper size, and not too much rounded; but in the latter 

 case, they present too smooth a surface, and cannot be kept in their places 

 with out mortar. 



The implements to be used in building the dry-stone wall are, a mason's 

 hammer, a spade or shovel for clearing the ground for a foundation, a pick or 

 mattock, and a frame of two upright posts fixed together, so as to correspond 

 with a vertical section of a portion of the wall, (Fig. 40.) 



Fig. 40. 



The line of the intended fence being fixed upon and marked on the ground, 

 the stones for building should be brought forward, and laid down en both 

 sides, if possible, of the line offence, but, if not, on one side. Pins being fixed 

 in the centre of the space to be occupied by the wall, the workman proceeds 

 thus: He carries his wooden frame to some distance along the line to be built 

 upon; he sets it perpendicular, which he is enabled to do by means of a plumb- 

 line attached to it, and he fixes it in this position in asimple manner as shown 

 in the figure. He then fixes another similar frame at the place where the wall 

 is to commence; he stretches two cords between these two frames on the out- 

 side, and as these cords correspond with the outside of the wall at a given 

 height, he has a guide for building it of the required dimensions. After 

 having built one portion, he uses only one frame, the wall itself serving after- 

 wards the part of a frame: for the cords being fixed to both sides of the wall, 

 and then attached to the frame which is placed in advance, the workman has, 

 as before, a guide by which he proceeds in building. 



The foundation of the wall should be laid on firm 

 around, and when there is not greensward to build 

 upon, the loose earth should betaken out by the spade, 

 until a solid foundation is arrived at. In building, the 

 largest and flattest stones should be used for the foun- 

 dation; and it is very desirable, if the materials used 

 will allow, to place stones at intervals, of sufficient size 

 to lie across the breadth of the wall, so as to bind the 

 wall together and render it more secure. (Fig. 41.) Dif- 

 ferent kinds of coping may be placed upon the wall, to 

 defend it; one of these consists merely of 

 turf, two sods being laid upon the wall, 

 with the earthy sides placed towards each 

 other. Another species of coping consists 

 of large stones, which being closely built 

 and wedged together, are cemented by 

 mortar. This is a complete and durable 

 species of coping, but when it is used, a 

 row of flat stones should be laid on the top 

 of the wall immediately beneath the cop- 

 ing and made to project a little on each 

 side of it. (Fig. 42.) . 



A wall sufficient for the purpose of the 

 farm maybe 32 inches wide at bottom, and 



including the coping 4 J feet high, and two _B9BBHHIQ 

 good cart loads of stones will suffice for 

 building a yard. Fig. 42. 



Fig?41. 



