STONE WALLS. 



795 



earth and stone ivalls ; or with lime and sand, in which form they are 

 denominated mortared walls. 



In constructing mortared stone walls, the foundation should be 

 about 2| feet in width, and the wall should taper upwards to a width 

 of 10 inches or 1 foot. The foundation should be placed at a sufficient 

 depth in the ground to be below the reach of frost, and the wall should 

 be carried up to the height of 6 feet, and coped at the top with stones 

 placed edgewise. 



Where lime cannot be procured to cement the stones, a dry wall 

 may be constructed in the same manner, and, if judiciously arranged, 

 this dry masonry will last nearly as long. The foundation should be 

 laid on firm ground or on greensward, or, if this is impracticable, the 

 loose earth should be dug away until some solid base is obtained. The 



Fig. 364. Mode of Building Stone Wall. 



largest and flattest stones should be placed at the bottom, and, at 

 frequent intervals, stones should be introduced of sufficient size to reach 

 from one side of the wall to the other. The large and small stones 

 should be uniformly mixed throughout the wall, so that in every part 

 of it they may break bond as much as possible. A wall, 2 feet thick 

 at the base, half as wide at the top, and about 4| or 5 feet high, will 

 answer every useful purpose. On hilly ground, however, where in- 

 tended as a fence against sheep, and where shelter is much needed, 

 the wall should be 5 or 6 feet high ; for a height of 5 feet the breadth 

 should be 27 inches at the base and 14 inches at the top. On the 

 top of the wall, but included in its aggregate height, should be placed 

 a row of upright stones, fitting together with tolerable accuracy, and 

 called " coping stones." Such a wall is best built by two men 

 working together on opposite sides, and using a wooden frame as a 

 guide (fig. 364). 



IV. HEDGES. The plants which have been chiefly used for hedges 

 are the following : 



