Slate Fences
Turf Dykes.—These were formerly much used in moorland and outlying districts, where stones are not abundant, and where, from the nature of the soil and situation, hedges would not succeed. They are, at best, troublesome fences to keep in repair, and require some adjunct either in the way of wires atop, or, failing this, they must be planted with gorse or other suitable shrubs. One advantage is the great amount of shelter they afford to the young plants, while they are, comparatively speaking, cheap of erection. There are several methods of building turf dykes, the best being to cut or pare the turf 3 in. in thickness in one or more lengths to suit the width of the dyke, and of a convenient breadth: these are laid cross-wise one above the other. Both sides of the dyke should be built at once, giving the necessary batter as the work proceeds, and the grassy surface of the turf placed to the outside. The dyke is usually made 3 ft. in height, 3 ft. wide, and drawn gradually in to 12 in. at top. A two-rail fence surmounts the dyke, bringing the total height to 4½ ft. or 5 ft. Sometimes a ditch is cut alongside the dyke 3 ft. wide, about 2½ ft. deep, and 9 in. wide at bottom, so as to prevent the farm stock getting at and damaging it, the soil removed being used in forming the fence. By sowing gorse and broom seeds on top of the dyke an excellent shelter fence is obtained.
Wood Fences.—These are common on almost every estate throughout the country, especially such as are well wooded, and, owing to the low prices obtainable for home-grown timber, it is well that such should be employed as widely as possible. Wooden fences are also much preferred by many owners of property to those erected either of stone or iron on account of their rustic appearance.
Wooden fences are, therefore, sure to be largely employed when the appearance of the property and not too-exacting financial results are points of importance.
There are many forms of wooden fences adopted, these varying chiefly according to the particular use to which they are applied. The following descriptions are of such kinds as are generally in use for woods and plantations.
Here it might be well to mention in passing that only matured and seasoned timber should be used in fencing, the cost of erection, whether the timber be good or inferior, being the same, and every one knows which will last the longer.
A good strong fence is erected as follows:—Posts, 5 ft. 9 in. long, 4 in. broad, and 2½ in. thick; bars or rails, 9 ft. long, by 3½ in. by 1½ in. Four holes are mortised into the posts for the reception of the bars, the ends of which are so formed as to overlap each other tightly. The fence is usually 4 ft. high, and so as to strengthen the horizontal bars a stake is driven into the ground midway between the larger posts, and to this the rails are securely nailed. In some cases the posts are not to be mortised, so that the bars require to be attached by nails.