MISTAKES IN ORCHARD MANAGEMENT. 
271 
Bristol. The sleepers were split in this case, as there was no sawmill 
near, and the fixing was done by a labourer. The sleepers are 9 feet long 
(a foot of which could be cut off and used for firewood), 10 inches wide, and 
4^ inches thick. They could be sawn into three, and the sawing at a 
mill would cost os. a ton. The sleepers cost 15s. a ton at Pensford 
Station, and they run twenty to the ton. Add to this the cost of carting 
home and to the mill and back would give, probably, a total cost of 25s., 
or Is. Sd. per sleeper. The twenty sleepers would cut out sixty posts, 
costing 5(7. each, or lOd. for each tree. The old barrel (120 gallons) cost 
Fig. 140. — "Scabby" Bark caused by Thorns rubbing. 
2.S-., being a castaway from the cider cellar. There were twenty-four 
staves in the barrel, which w^ould each cut into two rails. Ten rails to a 
tree would thus cost 5cL The posts being fixed in position before the 
trees are planted gives better work, and the roots will not be injured in 
fixing. Add, for cost of fixing and nailing rails, Qd. a tree, and we have 
a total cost of Is. 9c?. for fencing each tree, and a very cheap strong- 
fence it is. The sleepers, being pickled, and the rails oak, should last 
until the tree is old enough to do without support or fencing. There will 
also be 2 cwt. of prime firewood for the house. 
Another case of " thorning " trees is next shown in fig. 139, and 
fig. 140 shows the bad effect of "thorning." The bark is "scabby," 
