18 FENCING AND 



the top, or cope stones, all put on and bedded in 

 lime, which keeps the dyke altogether in a more 

 firm and compact state than that built upon the 

 old principle. 



The dry-stone dykes are generally built, includ- 

 ing the cope, about five feet high, thirty inches 

 broad at bottom, and tapering regularly upon each 

 side to about twelve inches thick at top of buikhng, 

 which is four feet high. They receive the addition 

 of fully another foot in height by having the cope 

 and cobble placed on the top of the regularly built 

 part. 



The price of erecting a stone dyke depends 

 entirely upon the conveniency of getting stones for 

 the purpose. If stones are to be carted far for 

 the line of fence, the expense becomes considerable ; 

 but the stones being laid down, it is generally got 

 done for 2s. 6d. per rood of six yards, including the 

 cope and cobble well put on with lime. This is the 

 price generally paid in Mid-Lothian, but in many 

 other districts, where lime is more expensive, 3s. 

 per rood may not be an over-estimate. The stone 

 dykes make a very desirable fence upon high dis- 

 tricts, where, upon account of their immediate 

 height, they at once give shelter to young trees 

 in a new plantation, but they are certainly not 

 to be recommended as an ornamental fence ; 

 therefore, they should be excluded from any 

 gentleman's home grounds, for in such a situa- 



