THE POULTRY- YARD. 305 



are fastened by screws, so as to form staples, tliroiigh which 

 posts seven feet long and two and a half inches in diame- 

 ter, pointed at both ends, are thrust and set firmly in the 

 ground. 



The rails in the alternate sections are at such distances 

 apart, that while the tops of the pickets are in line, the 

 staples at the ends — the U-shaped pieces of hoop — may not 

 interfere with those of adjoining sections. 



Each post, when in position, has a brace upon the out- 

 side, made by sawing in half one of the rails, beveling 

 both ends of the two braces thus obtained, and fastening 

 upon them at an obtuse angle staples like those on the rail ; 

 set one of these braces up against one of the posts it is to 

 strengthen, and you will see at once just how the sta^oles 

 should incline ; one of them is to be slipped over the top 

 of the post, and the other to rest on the ground with a peg 

 driven through it, the top of the latter inclining away 

 from the fence. Braces thus arranged will, as it is easy to 

 see, hold the fence in position, no matter how the wind 

 may blow, if only the peg is stout and well driven into the 

 ground, the staple-loop over the post holding equally in 

 any direction. 



Gates are made in the same way, only that they are 

 hinged to stout posts, which are set up and braced in a 

 similar manner. 



For movable poultry-houses there are several plans, and 

 if none of these happen to suit in all respects, it is not a 

 difficult thing for an intelligent mind to suggest, or an in- 

 telligent hand to execute any necessary modifications. The 

 main point is to have as light a structure as is consistent 

 with strength and durability ; large size is not requisite 

 when the object is only to provide safe shelter during the 

 night and nests for the layers, and, in our genial Florida 

 climate, this is all that need be thought of. 



20 



