1 80 On the Nature and Advantages of Inclosures. 



realised ; the fruit being generally stolen, and the trees mu- 

 tilated ( ' $. 



5. Miscellaneous Particulars. 



These principally relate to, Gates, Stiles, and Wickets. 



1. Gates. This is a subject of considerable importance, 

 and includes the following particulars: The general pro- 

 perties of such gates ; Their proper position ; The sub- 

 stances on which they ought to be placed ; Their dimen- 

 sions ; Their form ; and, The materials used in making 

 them. 



1. The properties desirable in field gates, are, 1. Strength 

 to resist large cattle; 2. Closeness to confine small; 3. Sta- 

 bility in their form ; and, 4. Economy in their construction. 



2. Their position must be determined by considering the 

 roads and other communications with which they are con- 

 nected, the size and form of iriclosures to which they lead, 

 and the purposes to which these are intended to be applied. 



3. Gates are fixed in various ways. Sometimes on posts 

 of oak or larch, being more durable than foreign fir. Some- 

 times living trees of considerable size are transplanted with 

 their roots, for gate posts, a practice not to be recommended. 

 Sometimes blocks made from a single stone, of a good qua- 

 lity, and a sufficient jsize, may be had, and are greatly pre- 

 ferable to timber ( I0 ); arid sometimes round or square pil- 

 lars are built of stone and lime, with large stones inserted 

 at that part of the pillar on which the gate hangs. 



4. No field-gate intended for carriages, ought to be less 

 than nine feet wide ; and if the resort is frequent, ten feet 

 is preferable. The height should be about five feet, or 

 nearly the same as that of which fences are usually made. 



5. With respect to their construction, there is room for 

 selection out of the various forms now in use. For interior 

 inclosures, a cheap and simple plan is adopted, that of ha- 

 ving a pillar at each side, into which four or more moveable 

 bars may be made to slip in or out at pleasure. That plan 

 however, does riot answer for passages, if much resorted to. 

 The swing-gate, which turns on hinges at one side, and fastens 

 by a latch at the other, and which may occasionally be shut by 

 a padlock and chain, is the most common in fences. For 

 all places of considerable resort, this gate should be hung, 

 so as to open easily to the traveller, even on horseback, and 

 to shut of itself. The folding gate, consisting of two parts, 



