74 THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FARM. 



carefully selected, the smaller ones are used in the founda- 

 tion, dressed and laid to a fair face, rapidly narrowing 

 from the foundation upwards, for two or three feet from the 

 ground. At this point the width is from twenty inches to 

 two feet : stones of sufficient length to reach from side to 

 side of the wall, called by the workmen throughbonds, are 

 now selected for preference; these should lie flat, thus 

 binding the foundation. Over these are placed others in 

 "random " courses, which lock together, making a substantial 

 structure, finished with a roughly dressed coping placed on 

 the top, sometimes set in mortar. When well constructed 

 this makes a durable and serviceable fence. The high price 

 of labour is, however, inducing landlords to try cheaper, 

 though less durable materials. 



Open Ditches. On fen and bog lands open ditches 

 are common ; they serve the double purpose of a restrain- 

 ing barrier against the inroads of stock, an outflow for 

 the surplus water with which the soil is charged, and in 

 level fens a means of retaining water for the advantage of 

 the land, and the use of the stock. Commonly, these 

 ditches vary in width and depth with the natural contour of 

 the land and the volume of water to be carried off. They are 

 usually cut with a "batter" or slope of two to one. Having 

 decided the requisite width of bottom to meet the special 

 requirements and the depth of the cutting, the width at 

 the top is easily calculated. The soil removed from the 

 excavation should be spread over the land, except in such 

 cases as require a bank, which should then be placed some 

 distance from the'face of the slope, otherwise the additional 

 pressure endangers the stability of the cutting by causing 

 the sides to slip. Ditches, where leading to a brook or 



