USUALLY IT DOES NOT SWING AT ALL: THE PRINCIPLE OF BALANCE HAS BEEN LITTLE 
UNDERSTOOD—POSTS AND THEIR PLANTING—VARIATIONS FOR DECORATIVE EFFECTS 
by Charles Edward Hooper 
T HERE is probably nothing with any sort of relation to 
domestic architecture which demonstrates more clearly 
the vast difference between theory and practice than the com¬ 
mon contrivances of man designed to close openings intended 
as thoroughfares. The door, for example—there is nothing about 
it, in its common form, to suggest that it is supported entirely on 
one side. Unlike other architectural units, it is lacking in natural 
balance and is hence a thing of unrest and unconstructive prin¬ 
ciples. It is held in place by metal contrivances which depend on 
their assumed superior strength to offset the never-resting strain 
exerted upon them. The theory in the case is well enough, but 
there is generally some Haw in the practice. It is said that the 
arch never sleeps, but with the adhesion of mortar it becomes as a 
thing dead, compared with the door. Like the door, the average 
gate is open to the same cptestions of architectural balance, but 
unlike the door there seems to be a chance to correct its deficien¬ 
cies in this direction. 
Our present problem deals with the farm gate, which is far 
easier of solution than the more architectural form, as the latter 
is easier than the problem of the door. The farm gate, however, 
being of considerable span and weight, is apt to attract one's atten¬ 
tion more forcibly than the petty annoyances of the door. 
The common form of farm gate is that which one finds on 
old English plans and which has been put up with for so long 
that its reconstruction has hardly been considered. In this form 
the gate itself is well constructed enough, but it depends for its 
equilibrium on the stability of the post to which it is hung. Now 
ordinarily this post is none too heavy and none too well set, and 
that the considerable leverage of the gate disturbs this equilibrium 
is hardly to be wondered at. Even with a stone post there is great 
danger, such as the uncertain conditions of the top-soil while in 
the grip of frost and thaw, for any weakness is readily seized upon 
by the gate, and there is an unrest fill dead weight, ever tugging 
to get free. 
Some effort has been made from time to time to secure the 
top of the post by wire cable against the strain of the closed gate, 
and of shoring up of that side on which the strain comes when 
the gate is wide open, but these methods, while well enough in 
principle, are not as permanent as could be wished owing to the 
already mentioned soil conditions, which are very apt to be 
affected differently by the different strains exerted. We do not 
wish to say that this form of gate cannot be made fairly stable, 
but we do assert that any such processes as may successfully 
effected differently by the different strains exerted. We do not 
the method we are herein to suggest. 
In certain parts of Maine particularly, and scattered otherwise 
through New England, there is a type of simple farm gate built 
on the principle of balance. Whether it originated in this coun¬ 
try or abroad is difficult to say, nor is the fact important. There 
is a suggestion of local conditions about it, inasmuch as balance 
is affected by stones. In its common form a considerable spar 
is balanced on top of the supporting post, turning on a pin; the 
gate is hung from this on one side and is balanced by a load of 
field stone in a sort of trough on top of the butt of the spar, which 
is opposite. There is, of course, no side strain to the post and 
little chance of its shifting, if properly set. 
This is what generally happens — the post is none too heavy nor too well planted— 
and the gate sags 
The post difficulty in this instance has been obviated, the strain resting solely on 
the hinges and diagonal bars 
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