The Delawarean, and farmers' and mechanics' advertiser. (Wilmington, Del.) 183?-18??, 1836-12-17
STONE FENCES.

Where stones abound upon a farm,
and require to be taken off the fields
TO facilitate tllage, it is no doubt eco.
nomical to work them into stone
fences, and the sooner the better, as
by it an incumbrance is moved, and
IA substantial fence erected. All ex-
perience teaches, that where stone
walls are to be made, there is econo-
my in the long run, in making them
well. lfthey are not efficient aud
durable, the become a source of in
calculable trouble and expense, The
damage to crops, and the expense Of
frequent repairs, 10 say nothing of
their unsightly appearance, will soon
overbalance the cost of building them
well on the outset What you do,
do well, is a maxim that will app lie
with particular force to this branch OF
farm improvements
The material necessary for good
wall is flat stones the requisites to en-
sure durability are, a substantial foun-
dalton, which will give equally to pres.
sure or to frost-a sufficient base to
sustain the superstructure-a coping
and good workman; and to render
them efficient, they should be four and
half or five feet high either entirely
stone, or crowned with a sufficient
structure. II the mass of stones are
not fiat, or rather il they are round
they will not stay long in their place
without broad base, and great slope
upon the exterior surface. Pound
stones should be only used in what
are denominated half walls, which
areto be crowned with wood. lfthe
foundation gives unequally, the struc.
ture of the wall will soon be deranged
and parts Of it will fall. A prudent
way is TO base it upon hardoan or
soil, by blearing of the surface earth.
sto e walls, unless laid in lime, which
by the bye, is an excellent practice,
particularly about farm buildings,
where the expense can be afforded,
should incline inwards, from the base
to the coming. The slope should be
an inch to foot and if the wall is
1--WE feethigh, and twelve inches broad
at top, it should be two feet broad at
bottom. The coping, which consists
OF broad stones, extending across the
top, tends by its weight and its bends, |
to keep the materials in place Heavy |
stones Of suitable size should be resery- |
ed for this use.
There are three modes of construct
ing fences of stone in common use
|. Where the material is abundant,
and where the whole structure is TO
be ofsione. Such should be five feet
high, two feet broad at bottom. and
one foot at top, which will allow
Hare OF one inch 10 the foot on each
surface.
z Where the materials ofthe fence
are TO be part stone, and part wood,
winch is sometimes termed halfwall
ence. In constructing this, posts are
lrst set in the line at proper distance
he wall is then built two and half
'r three feet high, and boards nailed
o the posts above the required height,
II two rails added, holes which should
'e made in the posts previous to their
'eing put down. The posts serve to
IIeady and preserve the wall ; and
hey should be ofdurable materials, as
edar Locust, sc. as their situation
u6Ieets them 10 rapid decay.
3. Walls with riders-This is built
I any convenient height, Of stones
oles or rails are then laid length
'ise upon the top stakes to cross
re then inserted, which keep the
oles in place, and support other poles
r rails, placed upon them, which
oinpletes the structure.
E1..zczz {
Wheat and barley grow more in