Field Oates. 
39 
which, with modifications, may be seen anywhere. The heel is 
4 in. by 6 in., the head 2\ in. by 3 in., the top rail 3 in. by 4 in. 
at the heel, tapering to U in. by 3 in. at the head. The rails are 
I4 in- by 4 in. at the heel, tapering to 1 in. by 3 in.; the braces 
1 in. by 3 in. The point most open to objection is where the 
bottom of the strut is checked into the side of the mortise of 
the bottom rail, the heel being 4 in. thick and the rail l£in. 
Even if the strut be notched in its full thickness, there may still 
be fr in. between the notch and mortise. In practice, it is better 
to notch the heel, say § in., and the end of the strut f in. This 
is an expensive gate, costing in planed oak 18s. 
t Fig. 2 is a common form of gate in Gloucestershire. It re- 
quires a wide plank from which to cut this heel. The enlargement 
on the heel is to provide a rest for the top rail where the greatest 
strain is, but, to be of use, the top rail must fit close to it. I have 
seen manj carelessly fitted, and one where they were J in. apart. 
I have seen the top rail of this gate, which tapers from 4 in. to 
3 in., so mortised into the heel as to throw up the point, the 
evident intention being to give it the character of a spring 
suspender of the head. No good is got from forcing the rails 
into a curve, and it gave this gate the appearance of drooping 
from the centre of the top rail to the head. The additional timber 
required for the projection on the heel would be of more use to 
increase the cross section of the top rail. This gate is about the 
same cost as that illustrated in fig. 1. 
Fig. 3 shows a strong design. It requires more length of 
struts or diagonals, but this gives it great lateral rigidity, which 
is of much importance, as so many gates are allowed to drag 
on the ground from the gate dropping, or from the rise of the 
ground about it. The weakness of this gate is the number of 
lapping joints, where moisture is apt to lodge, causing, especially 
in ash, wet rot at the laps. The final break-up of such a gate is 
