12 Fences, Walls and Hedges 



wood and allowing it to cool in the mix- 

 ture. Have the temperature of the wood 

 over 200 F. so that the air and water 

 will be expanded and forced out and when 

 cooling begins, the vacuum which occurs 

 sucks in the creosote. 



Whatever method is employed, carry 

 the treatment above the ground line as 

 at this point the surface is exposed to 

 more frequent conditions of dryness and 

 dampness. It is due to these constant 

 changes that wet-rot sets in. Notice any 

 wooden post that is decaying and you will 

 see just at the ground line a deeper area 

 of corrosion. Grade the earth away from 

 the post. Water should not be allowed to 

 stand or collect on or near any woodwork, 

 therefore it is well to bevel the tops of the 

 posts and rails so that rain will quickly 

 run off. Posts of old fences sometimes 

 were set on large stones level with the 

 ground, and secured to them by iron dow- 

 els. 



The posts are best when set three feet 

 in the ground and eight or ten feet apart. 

 The quickest, cheapest form is to nail the 

 rails to the posts and the pickets or boards 



