ON SUNK FENCES. ft 17 



exifting circumftances may require, and facing up 

 the perpendicular fide with a (tone wall. 



The moft common rule for the proportions of 

 the Sunk Fence, on level ground, is, that what* 

 ever be the depth of the facing wall, the length 

 of the flope, from the general furface of the field 

 to the bottom of the facing wall, mall be twice its 

 height. It would, however, be impoflible to ap- 

 ply this rule in many cafes ; indeed, almoft every 

 feparate field, intended to be fenced in this man- 

 ner, requires fome deviation from the above rule. 



In cafes where the Sunk Fence is intended to 

 defend a plantation from the depredations of paf- 

 turing animals, a five feet wall will be found ge- 

 nerally fufficient ; but in cafes where the furface 

 is unequal, and where it is neceflary that it mould 

 operate in the double capacity of a fence and a 

 drain, thefe circumftances muft regulate the height 

 of the wall, as well as the degree of flope. 



One general rule in fubdividing fields by the 

 Sunk Fence> is to place the perpendicular wall 

 next to the place from which the principal view- 

 er profpecl is likely to be taken j as, for in- 

 fiance, if a manfion-houfe be fo fituated that the 

 furrounding lawn muft be divided into feparate 

 enclofures, while it is defirable that this be done 

 in fuch a manner that the dividing fences be not 

 feen, a funk fence is fuitable j but the wall of the 

 ;nk fence muft be placed next to the houfe; 



becaufe> 



