Fencing Plantations 265 



if round, 3| in. diameter at smallest end. The strainers 

 should be fitted into the ground at 150 yards apart, and the 

 posts driven firmly at 6 ft. from each other. At every 

 sharp curve along the line of fence a stout post, say 5 in. 

 in diameter, should be used. In order to make a stout 

 fence proof against cattle and sheep, six wires should 

 be used, the two top No. 6, and the others No. 7 gauge, 

 the distances between each pair, beginning at the top, 

 being 8, 7, 6, 5j and 5 in., the lower being 5 in. from the 

 ground. Brackets for straining the wires should be attached 

 to each of the strainers, these having this advantage over 

 the older system of using the straining machine, that the 

 wires can be loosened or tightened at will, when repairs are 

 found necessary. The tops of the posts should be rounded 

 off or sawn on angle so as to prevent the lodgment of water. 

 Iron and wire fences combined are now commonly in use, 

 and there are so many excellent systems that it would 

 be invidious to recommend one kind more than another. 



Iron box fencing, which consists of standards with 

 double pronged feet for fixing in the ground and round or 

 flat horizontal bars run through them, has been largely 

 used and looks neat, being also, if properly erected, very 

 efficient. Wrought-iron hurdles are sometimes used for 

 fencing park clumps, and they possess at least this advan- 

 tage, that they can be lifted at any time and re-erected 

 should it be found necessary to remove them from one 

 place to another. 



Unclimbable iron fencing, usually in hurdles 7 ft. long, are 

 now much in use for park fencing, but for general plantation 

 purposes this class of fencing is too expensive. 



Tree Guards. These may either be erected of wood 

 or iron ; the former is, however, preferred on most large 

 estates where timber is plentiful, and will receive first atten- 

 tion. For large trees whose branches sweep the greensward 

 an elaborate structure is required, which may take the form 

 of almost any of those described under wooden fencing. 

 That entirely formed of oak is to be recommended, or split 

 larch for uprights, with oak posts and rails may be con- 

 sidered more rustic in appearance. In any case the guard 



