YARDS AND FENCES 99 



when vines are allowed to run on it, the zinc coating often oxidiz- 

 ing much more rapidly where vines cling than along the ground 

 where the grass binds it. 



Posts. Any light wooden post will answer for poultry fences. 

 When the fence is for poultry only, posts may be of small diam- 

 eter, especially if of durable wood. Where many posts four or 

 five inches in diameter are to be set, it is better to sharpen 

 one end, square the other and trim to allow placing on it a heavy 

 iron ring or cap (to prevent splitting and shattering), and drive the 

 posts instead of digging post holes and setting. When posts for 

 high fences are driven, the best way is to load the prepared posts 

 onto a wagon, leaving room forward for a man to stand to drive them, 

 start the holes with a crowbar, and let the man standing on the wagon 

 drive them with a heavy maul, a man on the ground making the 

 holes and holding the posts in place for the other to drive. Using a 

 team and two men in this way, posts may be driven very rapidly and 

 will be much firmer than if set. Old iron gas or water pipe cut into 

 suitable lengths is sometimes used for poultry-fence posts, and is 

 especially adapted to use in rocky land where wooden posts cannot 

 be driven. The pipe post has the great advantage that it need not 

 be driven straight but may go in the ground at any angle the stone 

 permits, and when down deep enough the part above the ground 

 is easily brought to the perpendicular by bending. Wire fencing 

 is attached to such posts with wire. The fence is a very satisfac- 

 tory one. 



For all wire fences the posts may be about 12 feet apart, and 

 when the ground at the point where a post should go contains 

 stones or roots which make it difficult to dig post holes or im- 

 possible to drive posts, it makes no difference if that post is shifted 

 a foot or even 2 feet in either direction ; for, while it is not advis- 

 able to make the regular distance between posts more than 1 2 feet, 

 an occasional increase or decrease of the distance makes no notice- 

 able difference in either the looks or the strength of the fence. 

 When a single board is used at the base, a post which comes in 

 the middle of a board may be set out of regular position if there is 

 any advantage in it. If, as is usual when boards are used, the base 

 is carried up two feet, it is advisable to set the posts eight feet 

 apart and break joints in putting on the boards, for with light posts 



