INCLOSING OF GROUND. 19 



tion they always give a stranger a mean idea of 

 the place. 



Third. — In many high-lying parts of Scotland, 

 where stones are not easily got at, and where, upon 

 account of the nature of the soil, it would not be 

 advisable to plant hedges, a very neat and good 

 fence is often put up for the purpose of inclosing 

 young plantations, termed the Turf Dyke. I have 

 seen these turf dykes answer the purpose extremely 

 well, both in the lowlands and highlands of Scot- 

 land. In building tliem, the turfs are cut from the 

 surface soil, upon each side of the hne of fence, 

 which turfs are generally cut about five inches 

 thick, or less, according as the surface will or will 

 not admit of that thickness. The turfs being cut, 

 they are built the one above the other to the de- 

 sired height, which is generally about thirty inches, 

 and all firmly packed together. 



The turf dyke is generally made about thirty 

 inches broad at the bottom, and tapering regularly 

 upon each side to fourteen inches at top. The 

 body of the dyke is built with the turfs grass side 

 under, but the top turf has the grass side upper- 

 most. 



In order to prevent sheep or cattle of any de- 

 scription from getting over the turf dyke into the 

 young plantations, which they are meant to pro- 

 tect, one or two bars of paling are generally put 

 along the top, which are nailed to stobs, driven 



