496 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part II. 



dividing rich and extensive pastures, such as a park let out to a farmer for several years* 



JU^ m 487 



grazing. For poultry, or for excluding hares, ral)bits, &c. the lower part of such fences 

 is covered with a wire netting. (Jig. 488.) 



SuBSECT. 5. Jf^all Fences. 



3056. Wall fences are constructed of different sorts of materials, and are of various 

 kinds. They are for the most part good fences, though some of them, as those of the 

 earthy kinds, are not by any means durable, and therefore should not be formed where 

 better sorts can be used. In the construction of walls, it is essential that the stones be 

 either taken from a quarry, or consist of the largest land-stones broken in such a manner 

 as to have a good flat surface, in order that they may bind well; that they be built by 

 masons, and well pinned ; that they have as dry and deep a foundation as possible, in 

 order to guard against frosts, &c. ; that they be made wide at the bottom, and tapering 

 upwards to about the breadth of ten inches, when the coping is to be applied ; that the 

 coping consist of materials that cannot be readily overturned or removed, as, upon the 

 manner in which it is finished, much of the future value and durability of the wall will 

 be found to depend. 



3057. Dry stone watts are of three kinds : those constructed of round stones gathered 

 from the fields, and coped vdth turves ; of quarried stones, upon which some pains have 

 been bestowed to put them into proper shape ; and the Galloway dike, so denominated 



rom its being originally used in that country. 



3058. The wall or dike made with round or land-stones, by labourers, and covered with a coping of turf, 

 is a very indifferent fence. In most instances, it is not only very ill constructed as to shape, being of one 

 uniform thickness from top to bottom, but the stones, from their round figure, do not present a sufficient 

 surface to each other to bind and give stability to the building. This fence has long been known, and is 

 still very common in the remote parts of the country, upon estates where the first rude essay is made in 

 the way of improvement, and where masons cannot readily be had. In such situations it has a two-fold 

 benefit; the surface is cleared of many stones that would otherwise have presented a considerable 

 obstacle to its cultivation, and the field is at the same time enclosed : but, though these objects are accom- 

 plished for a time, their benefit is not permanent, as the wall is perpetually tumbling down ; even the 

 cattle rubbing against it make considerable gaps in many places; and in that way, great trouble and 

 expense are annually required to keep it in repair. 



489 



3059. The wall in which the stones are quarried (fig. 489.), and 

 put together by skilful masons, broad at bottom, tapering gra- 

 dually upwards, and finished at top with a substantial coping, 

 has a very neat appearance, and has been known to last thirty 

 and even forty years without repairs. A good foundation is 

 highly essential in the construction of this fence ; from nine to 

 twelve inches is the smallest depth that it should be below the 

 common surface, especially if the soil is open and porous ; and 

 the largest and heaviest stones should always be laid undermost. 

 The best dikes of this kind are now built solid from bottom to top, and coped with stones resting upon 

 others projecting beyond the width of the dike. (C.) ,^ ^^,^^. n , i i 



4Qfj 3060. The Galloway dike or wall ifig.idO.) IS ^rmcvpaMyemfoyed 



^ for enclosing high grounds that are depastured with sheep, for the 



confining of which it seems well calculated. From two feet to two 

 and a half, at the bottom, it is built in a regular compact manner 

 with dry stones, in every respect the same as a dry stone wall with 

 a broad base, tapering gradually upwards : the building is then 

 levelled with a course of flat stones, resembling a coping, in such a 

 manner as that these flags or flat stones shall project two or three 

 inches over the wall on each side. Above these flat stones is laid a 

 course of rugged round ones, placed upon each other in a way 

 secure enough to give stability to the building, but at the same 

 time so open as to leave a considerable vacuity between each ; by which means a free passage is afforded 

 to the lieht and wind which blows through them with a violent whistling noise. This rough open part 

 of lie Killing is geSerllly raised three feet above the regular part of it. g^^.'l^^ly t.Pf,";f, "PX^tha 

 it terminates m a top of about nine inches broad, every course ot the rough stones being smaller than that 

 mSiately beneath it Its tottering appearance is so well calculated to prevent sheep, cattle, or other 

 Ln-^als S anXachine it that it is seldom indeed that any attempt is made to leap over it. This 

 SStknc^,tTeSwfth the ease with which the stones are procured, in most of the situations where 

 tlie Galloway dike is used, renders it a valuable fence. 



