170 



THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



Fio. 48. Fio. 49. 



FIG. 50. 



A side view of the same is given in fig. 49. The upper part at 6 

 is made round and the lower part flat : from the 

 point c to a it is straight, and fixed to the head of 

 the gate with a bolt and nut ; above that point it is 

 bent over from the gate so as to give a spring, and this 

 is kept in its proper place, and from springing too far 

 from the head of the gate, by a catch. This catch is 

 shown in its place in fig. 45. It weighs three Ib. and 

 costs about Is. 3d. 



Another form of gate and catch is shown in fig. 50, 

 a form which was used in the fencing of the extensive 

 plantations on the Earl of Sgafield's estates in Strathspey. The dimen- 

 sions of this kind of gate 

 are : The head a, five 

 feet high, three inches 

 broad by two inches 

 thick. The heel b, five 

 feet high, four and a 

 half inches broad by two 

 and a half inches thick. 

 4 The upper and- lower 

 bars c and d are made 



nine feet long, three inches broad, and two and a half inches thick. 

 The bars e e e are four and a half inches broad and one and a half inches 

 thick. The piece g is the same size as the upper bar, and / the same as 

 eee. The hinges, already described, are shown in their places at h h. 



Another form of gate-catches in great use amongst farmers in the 

 north of England is made with wood, and is shown in fig. 51. It is a 

 very simple contrivance, and very much to the purpose. It is usually 



made from a piece of good oak or ash 

 timber, and about thirty-three inches 

 long from a to b, the end at a being 

 three inches broad and two inches thick, 

 and from that point tapering back to b 

 to about half the thickness. A mortise 

 is made through the head of the gate, as 

 shown at c, through which the wooden 

 catch is put ; and the mortise must be 

 of such dimensions as will admit of the 

 catch working freely in it. The catch 



is then hung with a small iron chain, as shown at d. This admits of 

 it swinging to and fro ; and from the end at a being the heaviest, the 



FIG. 51. 



