IN THE POULTRY YARD. 99 
hole is deep enough, and it is surprising how rapidly the work can 
be done. We always started the holes in this way, but in soft 
spots it is best to drive the stakes wholly with the mallet. 
After a little practice it becomes unnecessary to mark off the 
boundaries of the yards. ‘The eye becomes a good enough 
guide for the direction, and the panels being all 16 feet, the 
size can be told at a glance. 
When there is to be a gate, the gate is treated like a 
panel, except that the tie which serves for the gate does not 
tie the panel next it. ‘Ihe gates were made just like short 
panels, but there was a diagonal brace above as well as be- 
low. ‘The gates were quite light, easily lifted and moved, 
so that no hinges were used. The tie was made of several 
turns of wire, instead of two, as used for the panels, and 
one of those three-cent wire hooks and eyes, of good size, 
was used for a fastening. This was not as convenient as a 
proper hinge, but it anvtered every purpose for the breeding 
pens. The gates for the large stationary yards were, how- 
ever, made more substantially. The gate posts were nicely 
squared, and the gates had a special picket for receiving the 
hinge. This picket was made of so-called inch boards 
(nearly 7-8ths thick), 3 inches ‘wide, and carefully selected Fig. 8. 
for soundness and strength. Loose butt hinges were used, 
and as the post was held upright by the panel on the other side 
there was no sagging, and the gate always worked smoothly. 
There was another form of panel used for division fences. In 
division fences, that is, fences between two yards, it is necessary to 
have the lower part close, so as to prevent fighting. This was 
done by nailing half a lath between every one of the lower row of 
laths. These Jaths did not quite fill up the space, but the openings 
were so narrow that n> fighting could occur. ‘The half laths were 
firmly nailed to the lower rail, and a line of selected Jath was run 
horizontally about 2 inches below the top of the half laths. These 
horizontal laths were nailed to the half laths, and also to the others, 
with small- wrought nails that clinched. ‘These division panels 
