FIELD FENCES. 77 



high, costing 4s. Qd. per yard is both durable and efficient. 

 Where appearance is of importance upright paling is fre- 

 quently used, the strength of the material being regulated 

 in accordance with the height of the fence, and the kind 

 of stock to be restrained. For a fence 5 feet high the 

 posts should be 4 inches square let into the ground not less 

 than 3 feet; and placed 9 feet apart. Two triangular 

 rails 4in. by 2in., are housed into these posts. The rails are 

 so placed as to divide the length of the pale into three equal 

 parts ; the tops of the pales may be rounded or pointed 

 off. They should not be more than 3 inches wide, securely 

 nailed to the cross rails. The space between each pair 

 should be equal to the width of the pale. 



Wire Fencing is another useful and cheap form of 

 fencing rapidly coming into public favour both at home and 

 in the colonies, many miles being erected every year. At 

 first common iron wire was used. Wooden stakes were 

 driven into the ground at fixed distances, and the wire was 

 strained ; and then secured to these by small staples. This 

 method has long since been superseded. In erecting a wire 

 fence the first operation is to fix standing posts at a dis- 

 tance of 220 yards apart ; these are usually constructed of 

 iron, through wood will equally answer the purpose ; the 

 chief objection to it being its limited durability. The old 

 system of winding by ratchet and pawl has been discarded 

 on account of its complication and cost. Intermediate 

 uprights are placed along the line 6 feet apart ; these are 

 sometimes made of two thicknesses of galvanised sheet 

 iron riveted together, forming a boss in the centre and 

 tapering from the bottom to the top; the uprights are 

 securely fixed in the ground. A wire fence for general 



