CUT-AND-LAID. 



353 



fence grew up, it no longer needed the rails, which rotted away 

 in time, and it developed into the bullfinch (bull-fence)." 



Whyte-Melville also tells us, " boundary fences of property 

 were few and far between, straggling also, and ill-made-up ; 

 the high thorn hedges that now call forth so much bold and 

 so much timid riding, either did not exist, or were of such 

 tender growth as required protection by a low rail on each side, 

 and a sportsman, with flying coat-tails, doubling these obstacles 



Fig- 235. Double posts and rails : rails about 3 ft. 6 in. high ; and about 

 10 ft. apart. 



neatly, at his own pace, forms a favourite object for the artist 

 of the time." The remarkable change in the stiffness of the 

 fences was undoubtedly due to the general adoption of the 

 cut-and-laid fence, which, from its deceptive character and 

 unchanceable nature, is a great stumbling block to Irish 

 hunters for the first few times ; for it is an unknown quantity 

 in the Emerald Isle. 



The cut-and-laid (Figs. 222, 223 and 224), which is often 



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