FIELD FENCES. 79 



amusing to see the effect of such a fence when charged by 

 any heavy animal. Giving way to a certain extent it 

 suddenly recoils, generally hurling the animal to a consider- 

 able distance. For hill pastures wire fences are invaluable. 

 The neat appearance and moderate cost of iron fencing, 

 and the great facility it affords for speedy erection and re- 

 moval if necessary, has greatly extended its use. A common 

 labourer of ordinary intelligence can, after a short practice 

 and some general instructions, set up a fence with tolerable 

 correctness. The strength, and consequently the cost, 

 varies with the purposes for which it is intended. Great 

 improvements have been made in the manufacture of this 

 kind of fencing within the past few years. The uprights 

 are constructed with feet calculated to resist the greatest 

 amount of pressure with the least possible quantity of 

 material. The bars are either made flat or round, and 

 sometimes the uppermost is round and lower ones flat. 

 "When skilfully set up and neatly painted the fence looks 

 well and is good for temporary purposes. Iron hurdles 

 are also in very general use ; having the advantage that 

 they can readily be shifted as occasion may require. Long 

 iron hurdles standing on wheels linked to one another are 

 sometimes seen in 100 yard lengths. 



Live Fences These are of various kinds, the chief of 

 which are the hawthorn, beech, holly, blackthorn, privet, 

 and whin or gorse. The beech is chiefly used about garden 

 and home grounds, more on account of its ornamental 

 character than for its merits as a fence. On suitable soils 

 it bears cutting, and carries its leaves until they are sup- 

 planted by a new growth ; and, well-trained, it makes a 

 serviceable and durable fence. It thrives best on a deep, 



