78 THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FARM. 



purposes should be 3 feet 2 inches from the surface of the 

 ground to the top wire, the second wire is 2 feet 6 inches 

 from the ground, third 1 foot 10 inches, fourth 1 foot 4 

 inches, fifth 11 inches, sixth 6 inches. Less than six 

 separate strands cannot be recommended. 



A new and improved method of fixing wire fencing 

 is now coming into general use. Permanent T iron 

 standards are placed 22 yards apart, along the line of 

 fence; holes are drilled at correct distances to receive 

 the wires. These standards are sharpened and driven into 

 the ground with a maul to the depth of 18 inches ; a round 

 piece of wood 16 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, 

 having a slot in the centre of sufficient width to pass the 

 standard, is passed over the top and dropped down ; a 

 nick of sufficient width and length is made in the soil 

 to a depth of 8 inches, where the billet is let in ; a hole to 

 admit a collar is drilled in the standard which prevents the 

 billet from shifting upwards, and firmly secures the standard; 

 & side stay is bolted to the top and secured in the ground 

 in the same way. These stays are of f inch round 

 iron, the permanent standards are 1 J inch wrought iron. 

 When perfectly strained and secured no farther support 

 is necessary for the wires except to prevent them being 

 pressed apart, which sheep and other stock would readily 

 do, and pass between. To obviate this, flat pieces of wood 

 called droppers are used ; these may be of any hard wood, 

 oak, ash, or larch 2J by f inches, and 3 feet 3 inches long. 

 Holes are bored in these at corresponding distances to those 

 in the permanent standards, the wires are passed through, 

 and wedged in order to keep the droppers in position, their 

 bottom ends merely resting on the ground. These droppers 

 are placed at a distance of 2 feet 4 inches apart. It is 



