GOESE WALLS. 307 



putting on the wall-plate and rafters, the whole internal surface 

 is made good by nailing split poles of larch, or other timber, 

 closely together across the uprights, taking especial care to 

 round off the ends when they appear at the door-posts. Thus 

 the whole of the interior is tolerably smooth, and no accident 

 can happen from the foal getting his leg into any crevice be- 

 tween the poles, if care is taken to nail them securely, and to 

 leave no space between them. When this internal framework 

 is finished, the gorse is applied outside as follows ; It is first 

 cut into small branches, leaving a foot-stalk to each, about 

 twelve or fifteen inches in length ; these branches are arranged 

 in layers between the uprights, the stalks pointing upwards 

 and inwards, and the prickly ends downwards and outwards. 

 "When, by a succession of layers of these brushy stalks, a height 

 of eighteen inches has been raised, a stout and tough pole, 

 about the size of an ordinary broomstick, and six feet long, is 

 laid upon the middle of the gorse, and so as to confine it against 

 the split poles and between the uprights. The workmen kneel 

 upon this pole, and by its means compress the gorse into the 

 smallest possible compass ; and while thus pressed down, and 

 against the internal framework, it is confined to the latter by 

 five or six loops of strong copper-wire. When this is properly 

 done, the gorse is so firmly confined, and withal so closely 

 packed, that neither wind nor rain can penetrate, nor can all 

 the mischief-loving powers of the foal withdraw a single stalk. 

 After fixing the first layer, a second is built up in the same way, 

 and when neatly done, the extei'ior is as level as a brick-wall ; 

 but if there are any very prominent branches, they may be 

 sheared ofi" with the common shears, or taken off with the 

 ordiuar^^ hedging bill-hook. When it is desired to make the 

 exterior look very smooth,^ a hay-trusser's knife is used ; but the 

 natural ends, though not so level, are a much better defence, 

 and last longer than the cut gorse. In the interior the stalks 

 sometimes project, and if so they must be smoothly trimmed off. 

 The fastenings to the door should be free from projections, 

 and nothing answers better than the common slide-bolt, which 

 no foal can open. All the wood-work should be painted with 

 coarse paint, or dressed with tar, which is the best for the pur- 

 pose, as it effectually prevents the young stock from licking 



