On the Nature and Advantages of Indosures. 181 



is best adapted to wide spaces, where one gate, occupying 

 the whole, would be too large and heavy. 



The importance of having gates that shut and open 

 readily, is known to every skilful farmer. When a gate is 

 left open, flocks prone to ramble, are sure to find it. They 

 will probably do much damage to the adjoining fields of tur- 

 nips, corn or grass ; they will become unsettled and dissa- 

 tisfied with their pasture for many days, and even weeks ; 

 and thus the farmer is not only injured in his crop, but in 

 his stock( ld? J). 



6. The best materials for field-gates are, split oak ( I0 8), 

 sweet or Spanish chesnut, the locust acacia, and sound red 

 Riga, Memel, or larch fir ; materials not very heavy, and 

 which will endure for some time. In some parts of Scotland, 

 and at Birmingham, gates of cast iron are manufactured. 

 They can be made as light as those of wood, and where iron 

 is cheap, about as low in price ( ! 5). In Cheshire, gates are 

 sometimes made of bar iron, of the ordinary size, at an ex- 

 pense of from two to three pounds (/*8). Great care ought 

 to be taken, to guard gates and pillars by large stones, and 

 to make the roads in their immediate vicinity smooth and 

 hard. 



But notwithstanding every precaution, gates are a perpe- 

 tual source of expense and vexation to the farmer. It has 

 therefore been suggested, as a useful plan, to contract with 

 a carpenter, to keep them in repair at a certain sum per an- 

 num. This would induce him, to examine every gate fre- 

 quently, and thus to preserve them in good order (**). For 

 their better security, it has been suggested, that a law shall 

 be passed to punish offenders, who wantonly injure so mate- 

 rial a means of protection to agricultural property (' '^). At 

 present, in some places, the stealing of gate hooks and iron 

 fastenings is so common, as to compel the farmer both to 

 hang and to fasten his gates with wood ; which is cheaper 

 than iron, though not so secure, nor so lasting ( I! 3). 



2. Stiles and Wickets. These are necessary in inclosures, 

 for the admission of foot passengers, while horses and cattle 

 are thus excluded. They should be simple in their form, 

 and made of durable materials. 



On the whole, a well-inclosed farm is a strong induce- 

 ment to any occupier, to exert his utmost energies in carry- 

 ing on every species of improvement that can be advantage- 

 ously undertaken ; while, by inclosures, the appearance of 



