Book IV. WALL FENCES. 497 



306 1 . Stone and lime walls, in order to be durable, should have a good foundation, deep 

 enough to prevent them from being hurt by frosts, with a broad base, tapering gradually 

 upwards. This fence, when properly executed, is, next to hedges, the most durable : 

 it is, however, very expensive ; and its superiority over the dry stone-wall is so trifling 

 in point of durability, as to render the latter the mora eligible, being much cheaper, and 

 answering every purpose of a fence equally well. For the building of this wall, stones 

 taken from the quarry are to be preferred to the common land-stones ; for though a 

 mason may be able to remedy, in some measure, the inequality of surface in land-stones, 

 by mixing plenty of lime with them, yet experience proves that walls made with such 

 stones, notwithstanding every care on the part of the builder, are much less perfect, and 

 last a much shorter time, than where quarried stones are employed. This, like every 

 other stone fence, should be secured at the top with a substantial coping. Stone fences 

 of every description not only form complete enclosures at once, and by that means allow 

 the proprietor to enter into immediate possession of every advantage that can arise from 

 tK^ enclosing of his fields, but, by the little room they occupy, a considerable portion of 

 land is saved. ' - - " '''^ ', ':" 



3062. In the constrvVtfMl^mnr^sTdnes and clai/, thii day is used like iiini&, and is meant to answer 

 the same purpose. It requires slemier observation to convince intelligent persons, that a wall made with 

 such materials in the ordinary way cannot be a durable Ofne; for if the clay made use of in building the 

 fence has been very moist, the summer's heat will diry it so much as to leave considerable chasms in the 

 building ; these chasms must necessarily deprive many of the stones of that support which they require, 

 and in that way endanger the building. This, however, is not the only inconvenience with which this 

 kiad of wall is attended ; the effect of the summer's sun upon the clay parches it so completely, that when 

 the wet weather commences about the end of autumn, it absorbs the moisture like a sponge, and if it is 

 overtaken by frost while in that state, the fabric swells, bursts, and tumbles down. 



3063. IValls of stone and clay, dashed with lime, differ in no respect from that described, except in the 

 harling or dashing that is given them. Where that operation is well performed, and at a proper season of 

 the year, the coating of lime, by preventing the entrance of moisture, will add greatly to the durability as 

 well as beauty of the wall ; so much so, indeed, that some fences made in this way, where the clay was 

 properly tempered, and did not contain too much moisture, and where a harling or dashing of lime was 

 afterwards given, have been known to last nearly as long as walls made entirely with stone and lime. 



3064. The dry stone wall, lipped with lime, differs from the ordinary dry stone wall, in having about two 

 or three inches' of it on each side lipped with lime, which gives it the appearance of being built entirely 

 with stone and lime. Where the external appearance of a fence is an object, something is gained by this 

 practice; in point of real duration, however, it seems to possess very little advantage over the common 

 dry stonewall, which, when properly executed, lasts equally long. 



3065. Dry stone walls, lipped and hurled, are much the same, nothing more being added than a harling 

 or dashing of lime after the other work is finished : this addition is to be considered merely as an improve- 

 ment upon tJieir appearance, and ijot as contributing to increase their utility, or render them more durable 

 as fences. 



3066. Dry stone walls, pinned and harled, are much the same : the mason only carefully pins or fills 

 up. all the intersticestif the building with small stones, after they have been built in the ordinary way, 

 and afterwards dashes or harls them over with lime. The pinning, by filling up every vacant space, and 

 affording complete support to the stones in every part of the surface, adds considerably to the durability of 

 the bullding,'and the harling afterwards gives tiie whole a finished substantial appearance, which renders 

 them at once agreeable to the eye, and lasting as fences. 



3067. The dry stone wall, with a light paling upon the top, is sometimes made, and for particular purposes 

 answers well, and has a handsome appearance when well executed. 



3068. Brick txiar/Zs are seldom had recourse to for ordinary enclosures, except in situations where stones are 

 extremely scarce (as is the case in some counties), and for pleasure-grounds, and for park or garden walls. 

 In Nottinghamshire, we have observed brick walls of open work, in the manner of the walls of Mac- 

 Phail's dungpits ; but the zigzag brick wall we should think preferable as a field wall. (See Enc. of Gard. 

 and Gard. Mag. vol. v. p. 678.) 



3069. Frame walls are constructed in the follovnng manner : A frame of deal boards, 

 of a width and height proportioned to that of the intended fence, is placed upon the line 

 in which it is intended to be made, a proper foundation having been previously dug ; 

 the frame is then filled with stones of all sorts, gathered principally from the adjoining 

 fields : when the frame is filled to the top with such stones, a quantity of liquid mortar 

 is poured in amongst them, suflScient to fill up every interstice ; the whole is suffered to 

 remain in that state till it is supposed that the mortar has acquired a suitable degree oi 

 firmness to give stability to the building, which in summer, when the weather is warn 

 and dry, will not require above a day or two. The frame is then removed, and placed 

 a little farther on in the same line, in such a manner as that one end of it shall join 

 immediately with that part of the work from which it had been removed. In this way 

 the line of fence is gradually completed, which, when the lime is of good quality and 

 well mixed with sharp sand, and the proper pains taken to incorporate it with the stones, 

 presents a smooth uniform surface, and will doubtless form a substantial and durable 

 fence. 



3070. Tvrf imlls are met with in almost every upland or hilly district throughout 

 Britain, and for temporary purposes are found very useful. In a variety of instances 

 this sort of fence is used for enclosing fields, and is practised for that purpose to a very 

 considerable extent; in others, however, it is used for the formation of folds, pens, or 

 other places of confinement for cattle during the night. In general, the fence is made 

 with turf only, pared off from the adjoining surface, and used without any mixture of 

 earth ; in other cases, the wall consists of a facing of turf on each side, while the space 

 between is filled up with loose earth. For a fold, this fence answers extremely well ; 

 but for enclosing a field, or indeed any other purpose where durability is required, it 



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