28 



THK FARM. 



\\s 



'"Vr*^A 





f^ronnd than many other kinds; and, when properly constructed, it ia a 

 substantial and neat fence. 



I'ig. 2, thongh in appearaneo somewhat reaemhling the previous one, is 



more expensive, and is designed 



especially for the use of poles or 

 slender rails that it would bo im- 

 possible to properly arrange in a 

 fence by anj' other i)lan. To the 

 stakes are nailed cleats, as shown, 

 from four to seven at eveiy set of 

 stakes. Size of rails and purpose 

 of fence will decide this point. A 

 ridge of earth can be thrown up 

 as in the previous plan, with a 

 corresponding economy of timber. 

 Pig. 3 exhibits a mode of stak- 

 '-^K* -^~' ^^^ ^ zig-zag fence. After the 

 '*-*t.'\ foundation has been laid, the 



FARM FKN'f'KS. Fio. 2. stakes should be driven; holes 



should be made with a crowbar to 



the depth of twenty inches at least. One man, standing on a box or bench, 



drives them with a sledge-han.imer or common wooden beetle, while an 



assistant keeps them upright. Make all the holes before you commence 



driving the stakes, which should be all 8haii>ened, and the top end reduced 



to a size admitting the caps to pass over them readily before they are brought 



to the field. 



^Vhen the fence is made four or more rails high (the size of rails, etc., will 



govei-n), the caps are put upon, and the fence finished by the addition of two 



or three more rails. 



In localities where caps are expensive or difQcult to obtain, good annealed 



Avire, size 10, Mill answer all purposes. It should be drawn tightly up 



around the stakes; it will bury into them, and the weight of the rails above 



the wires will rest upon the stakes, having a tcnd<;ncy to keep them in the 



ground when acted upon by the frost. 



The most expeditious manner in which to shaii^cn stakes is to have a 



largo, flat block of wood for the stake to stand on, which is held upright with 



one hand and sharpened with an axe held in the other; a hollow cut in the 



upper surface of the block will consider- 

 ably expedite the operation. Hop poles, 



stakes for grape-vines, etc., are best 



shari)ened in the above manner. 



In Fig. 4 is shown the best ]>lan known 



for stakijig the common rail fence. It 



dispenses with stakes at the coruei-s, and 



in consequence of their central position, 



they are not liable to l)e broken or 



loosened while jjlowing; nor does the 



fence occupy as nuich land as by the old 



mode. In consequence of the central 



point at which the stakes cross the np]ier 



rail of fence, it is recjnired to sustain the weight of the stakes and riders; 



therefore, this part should be made strong and durable, of well-seasoued 



material. 



FARM FENCKS. -no. 3. 



