354 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 



WALLS. 



Where stones are abundant, the outside as well as inside 

 fences, are made of this material. In the construction of walls, 

 different methods are pursued in different states ; they are made 

 simply of stones, with stones, lime or mortar, and sometimes by 

 interposing clay or turf between the stones. 



The first are denominated dry stone walls ; the second, stone 

 and mortar walls ; and the third, earth and stone walls. There 

 is no doubt but that where earthy material is employed in building 

 these kinds of fences, they cannot be so durable as where stones 

 alone, or stones with lime, are used, as from the continual action 

 of the air, and the destructive power of frost, such substances 

 quickly moulder aAvay, and the fences soon present a state of ruin. 



Stones when built into walls in the dry way, if the work is 

 well done, constitute a good and durable fence; but a better and 

 more lasting, though much more expensive method, is that of 

 using lime, which binds and cements the walls together, and pre- 

 vents them from falling down. 



In preparing the ground for the foundation of walls, it should 

 always be dug up to such a depth as that the frost may have no 

 effect on it ; they should always be coped at the top with flat 

 stones. In building dry stone walls, two men ought constantly 

 to be employed opposite to each other, in order that the surface 

 of their work should be level and smooth. Long stones should 

 be selected for the purpose of being placed occasionally across 

 the wall in order to bind it thoroughly together. These are 

 called through stones, and are ordinarily placed about the middle 

 of the work. The stones employed in the constructing of every 

 kind of wall should me made as flat as possible either by quar- 

 rying, or some other means, before they are made use of, as by 

 such a practice, walls are built with great facility and expedition 

 and become very strong and durable, and so far as the purpose 

 of a fence is intended they are the best of all, as they occasion the 

 least waste of ground, do no injury to the grain crops, and are 

 more free from weeds and rubbish than the generality of fences. 

 For a limited number of years, Avhere stones can be procured, 

 there can be but little doubt but that wall fences may be pre- 

 ferable to most other kinds, as they can be easily repaired in 

 cases of accident, and keep all descriptions of stock very 

 secure. 



