section of the wall to be erected,—a common 
604 
against the attempts of cattle; but they present 
a very unworkman-like aspect, not unlike the 
rude attempts of primeval cultivation. Rolled 
masses of rock, of the older formations, make the 
very worst materials for stone-fences. Round 
stones present so small and smooth a surface 
while in contact with each other, that they can- 
not long retain the position in which they have 
been placed, without the aid of mortar. On this 
account also, they are unfit to be used as a cop- 
ing to any wall. Their excessive hardness re- 
pels the free use of the hammer. They may be 
used, however, with advantage as foundation 
stones; and as many such masses are found near 
the surface of the ground, in the act of clearing 
away the obstructions to its cultivation, they 
can be got rid of in the most economical manner, 
by being thus usefully employed. Sandstone of 
a slaty structure, and slate-clay, are desirable 
materials for walls. The former sometimes, how- 
ever, presents a smooth hard surface when split 
into thin layers, which property permits the 
sliding of one stone over another, when built in 
a wall, and which endangers its stability; while 
the latter, having an excess of alumina in its com- 
position, which being frequently decomposed by 
the action of the atmospheric air, crumbles into 
powder. Both of these evils must be avoided as 
much as possible, by rejecting the improper ma- 
terials which produce them. The very best ma- 
terial for the construction of dry-built walls as a 
field-fence, is supplied by those rolled masses of 
sandstone found in gravelly deposits. They 
occur in size from 1 foot to 4 feet in diameter. 
Containing small plates of mica in their compo- 
sition, they easily split into thin layers imme- 
diately after they are extracted from the gravel 
in their naturally damp state. These layers har- 
den by exposure to the atmosphere. Very often 
they exhibit a smooth and straight fracture 
across their face, and this property causes them 
to be easily divided into conveniently sized stones 
for building, which is often accomplished by 
merely throwing them upon each other into a 
heap. These layers split with parallel faces, and 
they have a rough granulated surface, which 
makes them readily adhere to one another by 
friction when they are built into a wall. Such 
material leaves no waste, and; when properly 
built, forms a more compact, stronger dry wall 
than any other kind of stone. 
Much of the stability of any wall, of whatever 
material it may be built, will depend on the 
knowledge and dexterity of the builder. The 
best builder of a dry wall is he who practises no 
other kind of building than of dry materials; for 
any ordinary mason, particularly in building 
rubble-work, depends so much on the lime keep- 
ing the smaller stones safe in the inside of the 
wall, that he will not take the trouble to embed 
them firmly, The implements to be used area 
wooden frame. of the shape and size of a vertical 
WALL. 
mason’s hammer, about four pounds in weight, 
—a line, and a pick and shovel to prepare the 
ground for laying the foundation. The wooden 
frame should be 2 feet in breadth at the bottom 
over the wood, 15 inches wide at the upper edge 
of the cross rail near the top, which latter point 
should be 3 feet from the bottom, and the whole 
height of the frame may be 3 feet 3 inches, 
In choosing a line of fence for the foundation 
of a wall, the ground should be as hard as pos- 
sible, to prevent it from sinking. A good foun- 
dation may be found either upon a natural sward, 
or upon removing the soil which had been dis- 
turbed by the plough. If the soilis deep in any 
part of the line, the arable or soft part alone 
may be thrown aside; or, if it is not very soft, 
the largest and flattest stones may be used as a 
foundation upon the surface of the ground. The 
arable soil which is thrown out of any founda- 
tion may be used as a compost or top-dressing. 
All sudden turns or curves in such particular line | 
of wall should be avoided, as well as any sudden 
elevation or depression in a vertical direction, as | 
these points will be found to be the weakest in a 
wall. 
be cut down to a moderate curve, even though 
this work, for the sake of the wall, should cause | 
additional trouble in removing a little of the | 
circumjacent earth. Over a slight depression of 
the ground, if of considerable extent, the top of | 
the wall should run along a line of the same ap- 
parent elevation, for the sake of its general uni- 
form appearance. 
The stones for building should be laid down 
immediately after the line of fence is fixed upon. 
If the ground is clear on both sides of the line, 
double horse cart-loads of stones should be laid 
down within two yards of each other fron centre 
to centre of the load, on each side of the line. 
If one side only of the line can be approached by 
the cart, they must be placed within one yard || 
from centre to centre of the heap, that is, as 
close to each other as they can be emptied out | 
of the cart. For the convenience of the builder, 
the large boulder-stones meant for forming the 
foundation of the wall, should be Jaid down at 
first on the ground previously prepared for the 
foundation, and the common building stones 
should be afterwards placed as near to the hand 
of the builder as is practicable, without intruding 
too much on the space allotted to the foundation. 
Poles and stakes should be driven along the 
whole line in the centre of the space to be occu- 
pied by the wall, in order that it may be conti- 
nued straight. The frame is then to be placed 
in advance on the line to be built on. It must 
be set in a perpendicular position by a plumb 
line, hanging down in a line which bisects the 
frame in a vertical direction, and it is kept steady 
in its position by a stick, having a notch cut into 
one end of it, or a nail driven into it, and which 
The curves should be made segments of | 
as large circles as the circumstances of the case | 
will admit ; and sharp elevations of ground should | 
