FENCING. 



153 



straightening machine, which I have had in use for some time. I pur- 

 chased them from the makers, Messrs A. & J. Main of Glasgow. The 

 price of a complete set of fencing tools consisting of the foregoing, a 

 pair of clambs and pincers is 2, 5s. 



The cost of a fence of this description may be put down as follows, 

 when erected under ordinary circumstances. This is exclusive of the 

 value of the timber. 



Cost of wire and staples per yard, six deep, . 7^d. 

 Erecting fence, l^d. 



Total, 9d. 



Even where timber is plentiful, however, I have found it advantageous, 

 in erecting wire fences on wooden intermediate posts, to use iron strain- 

 ing-posts instead of wooden ones, as the straining-posts are the main- 

 stay of the whole length of the fence ; and the longer they stand, the 

 fence will keep in order in proportion. Wooden straining-posts are apt 

 to give way, while iron posts are less liable to do so ; and iron posts 

 strain a much longer length of wire than the others. Good iron strain- 

 ing-pillars will strain four times the length that a wooden one will do. 

 Taking, therefore, the value of the timber used, and the real expense of 

 erecting four posts instead of one, the iron pillar comes to be the 

 cheapest, and the wire can be tightened at any time. Fig. 27 shows a 

 sketch of a wire fence erected with an iron straining-post and wooden 



FIG. 27. 



standard. At a is shown the handle or crank for tightening the wire ; 

 this is taken out when not in use, and is used for tightening them at 

 any time. Fig. 28 is a sketch of the straining-pillar. The winding 



