Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-20

mine.) Now, after the gate is hung, put in
the head post always gutter the head
post 8 by 8 (never the other) for head to
fall in, it is great Improvement, is safer
against stock but tho same rule applies to
this as the other end of the gate, it should
here have full half or three-quarters of an
inch play, so it shall not stick.
use commonly wood latch morticed
through the head piece and nailed to the
pa!ing, extending half its length behind the
paling it is very convenient to put the foot
on, and decreases the friction on the catch,
and of course shuts easier. Although the
cheapest and most convenient latch made,
it is not the safest, where you have cum
ming mule or OK, they frequently learn to
open it. have an iron one that nothing
can open without hands, but cannot we'll
describe it.
give side view of the catch made out
of piece of scantling 3 by 8 and pinned on
the post; it is much better than the old plan
of wooden pin sloped and uotched So as
to catch strrups and traces, sc.
Now posts again; get good lasting timber
and put the natural top downwards, and
leave no shoulder at the surface Of the ground
to catch water and hold it, nor make any
mortice for cross pieces, they will rot there
quite soon enough without any assistance;
but put on a good coat Of boiling tar, about
2 feet long or thereabouts, say foot in the
ground and the same above. always hang
my gates about six inches from the level
ground, and then dig up the earth between
posts and add couple of cart loads OF earth
that will set hard and raise the ground to
within 2 inches Of the bottom bar; the gate
will always swing better or clearer Of any
loose chunks or rocks, aud will be clear of
a water hole, which is very desirable.
The catch and latch are very important;
they should be very carefully made and put
on, and should work with as little friction
as possible, or the gate will not shut readily;
no gate is perfect that will stand at any
point you may place it from its closed posi-
ton, even should it be touching the latch; if
you adopt the catch in the plate, the incline
or slope of the latch as to run up should be
Of very gentle ascent, and the latch not bear
too heavy.
have been minute, having had great cx-
perience aud good practical success. ask
no one to shut any one of my field gates
after him only ask not to prop them open,
Within 20 yards of where | am writing,
hangs the first gate had made on this plan.
tation, hung in 1886, over II years ago, and
you could not tell,it had been there over q
mouths by its appearance; and yet it opens
into the wood yard and thence to the or
chard, kitchen, &C., and is opened and shut
daily from 20 to 40 times. 1t has had about
1 coats of white lead it is the best Of econ.
omy to paint, say two coats when new, and
one every three years afterward.
would recommend any planter who
intends adopting gates to get lumber enough
for 40 or so gates at once, put it III lofts
and get it we'll seasoned. | keep mine in Il
negro house loft, always enough to cover
the joists. If you have any to spare, care
less neishbors willingly pay you double
price for it.
BMof Lumber for II Gates:
60 bars Ia INCHES wide, 4 thick, and
20 feet long.
6 scantling by and l2 l,2 feet long.
& &" 3 by 3 and 10 l2
If the lumber should be oak, the bars may
be one inch thick, all other proportions the
same.
Yours respectfully, r. WARD.
EdGefeM District. S. c., 1854.