478 
New Field Gate . 
5 and 6, fixing those points. The gate is thus doubly 
braced, namely, from the top of the heel to the top of the 
head, by means of the braces 1, 4, and 4, 5 ; and from 
the bottom of the heel to the bottom of the head, by means 
of the braces 2, 8, and 3, 6. On each side of the gate 
are two braces, and those parallel to each other. The 
brace proceeding from the bottom of the heel of the gate, 
and that which is parallel to it, as also the bottom bar, 
all strained in the way of compression, and the brace 
proceeding from the top of the heel, and the other brace 
which is parallel to it, and also the top bar, are all strain- 
ed in the way of extension. The strains in this gate be- 
ing none of them transverse, but all longitudinal, it would 
support a vast weight at its head without having its form 
altered. The braces all serve the double purpose of 
keeping the gate in its true form, and of shortening the 
bearings of the bars, and strengthening them. Few gates 
have less timber in their braces ; and perhaps in no other 
way can a gate be so firmly braced with so small a quan- 
tity of timber. 
At 3, 4, 7? and 8, two braces and a bar of the gate are 
firmly screwed together by means of iron pins and screw 
nuts. At the other points, where only one brace crosses 
a bar, common gate-nails are used. 
If, in some cases, a strong top-bar be wanted, to resist 
the pressure of heavy cattle, a bar or board, about six 
inches broad, and one inch thick, may be laid with its 
broad side upon the top bar, and fixed thereto by means 
of the ends of the braces in the middle, and by the heel 
and head of the gate at the two ends of it. This board 
will, in this position, resist exactly the same pressure as 
a thick top bar, three inches broad, by four inches deep, 
although it contain no more than half the timber. 
In the ground plan, or horizontal section, fig. 7? repre- 
sents a piece of wood, about four inches cube, pinned to 
