56 
Field Gates. 
of the head post at H. In favour of this plan he argues, “ a piece 
of wood or metal will support an immense weight applied to 
it by tension ; but when placed perpendicularly it will not support 
its own weight.” 
Others exactly reverse this order, and commence the strut 
from the bottom of the heel post, and run to the top of the head 
post, M to E i. The objection to this long strut appears to me 
to rest in the fact that the farther you carry it towards the head 
the less resistance is it able to give to a weight placed on the 
top bar, owing to the greater leverage and increased tendency to 
tear itself loose from the points at which it is fastened. 
But to enter into the controversy as to the merits of this 
plan or that would be as long a business as to attempt to discuss 
the question of bimetallism, and I therefore merely propose to 
give details of a gate which, in my opinion, is of the best con- 
struction, and which from long experience I know to wear well. 
It is entirely made of oak : heel post 3 in. by 5 in. ; head post 
2 in. by 3 in. ; top bar 2^ in. by 4 in., 
tapering to 1 in. by 4 in. at head ; rails 
* - — and braces 4 in. by 1 in. The top and 
17 -Hook bottom rails, and also the bars, are mortised 
into the heel and head, and fastened with 
oak pegs. The strut, m c, is fitted flush to the heel but not 
mortised into it, and is bolted to the bars and top rail with 
four round-headed bolts neatly finished off so as not to hurt 
stock. The braces are fastened in a similar manner. For a 
Fig. 18. — Bottom band. Fig. 19.— Top band. 
The neck a is to acoommodate the hook which is driven into the corner of the post. 
The dotted lines show the hanging post, which is 9 in. square. 
10 ft. gate another brace should be added midway between C G 
and E F. 
The mountings are very simple, and will be understood from 
the drawings (figs. 17, 18, 19). The hooks are driven into the 
corner of the hanging post, a small hole being first made with 
