ADVICE FOR LACKLAND. 85 



Two half-inch iron rods were passed through 

 each gate and fastened by a nut upon the longer up- 

 right sapling. Once or twice it has been necessary 

 to give this nut a turn or two with the wrench, and 

 this completes the tale of the attention it has re- 

 quired. 



The first panel (and part of the second) of the 

 fence to which it is attached, is given to show its 

 relation to its surroundings, and the perfect simplicity 

 of detail which belongs to it. The posts are firm 

 and cannot swag. The gates are light perfectly 

 braced, and held in place by the iron rods which pass 

 through them. They bid fair to last until the sap 

 portion of the wood (cedar) is fairly rotted away. 

 The three horizontal arms are inserted with tenons ; 

 the braces are fitted only with the gouge, and made 

 fast with wire nails. And here I wish to enter a 

 plea for the wire nails, used all over the continent of 

 Europe, but, as yet, little known with us j though, I 

 believe, they are to be found in the larger hardware 

 shops of New York. The advantage of them is, that 

 they can be driven without splitting the wood that 

 they can be clenched effectively, and what is of 

 importance in light work they add very little to the 

 weight. For the construction of interior rustic work 

 of twigs and bark they are invaluable. They may 

 be found of all sizes, from that of a cambric needle 



