FENCING 221 



also with regard to details of materials and methods of 

 construction. 



Circumstances frequently occur which make it necessary 

 to construct a temporary fence, as in cases where the farm 

 plan has not been decided upon and the field boundaries 

 are only temporary. When the farm plans are complete 

 and permanent lines are established between fields, it is 

 advisable to have a strong and permanent fence which will 

 turn horses, sheep, cattle, and hogs. Good fences around 

 a field make it possible to utilize much pasture that would 

 otherwise go to waste. 



TYPES OF FENCES 



Stone fences. Pioneer fences are made of such materials 

 as happen to be at hand. Where stone is plentiful, stone 

 fences are constructed. The construction of such a fence 

 accomplishes two purposes, the removal of objectionable 

 material from the fields and the building of a lasting and 

 substantial fence. These fences are made about 2 feet 

 wide at the bottom, 4^ feet high, and 18 inches across the 

 top. The larger stones are placed on the bottom, slanting 

 a little toward the middle. Long stones are occasionally 

 laid from one side to the other to serve as a binder, and large 

 flat stones are placed on top. The life of such a fence, prop- 

 erly constructed, is practically indefinite. If loosely laid 

 up, it may be pushed over by stock or toppled over by 

 alternate freezing and thawing. 



Rail fences. In localities where wood is plentiful, poles 

 are cut and laid up as a rail fence (Fig. 188), or the ends 

 flattened and nailed to posts. All trees along the line that 

 will serve are used as posts. Where straight-grained tim- 

 ber of sufficient size to split is available, fences are built 

 of rails. The rails are approximately 12 feet long and from 

 4 to 6 inches thick. The fence is built from seven to eight 

 rails in height, with the rails overlapping a foot at either 

 end to serve as a lock. The height of the fence is increased 

 by two stakes placed at each lock, set in the ground and 



