IN SCOTLAND.

299

J. With respect to Roads , the fences require to be plan-ned and managed afterwards with judgment; as otherwisethey may prove injurious or even dangerous. By close loftyhedges, especially if intermixed with hedge-row trees, a freecirculation of air is excluded from the roads, which are keptcontinually wet and uncomfortable : and if deep fence ditchesare made contiguous to the sides of roads, they must oftenoccasion danger to carriages and passengers. It is thereforevery properly provided in turnpike acts, that the ditch andhedge be placed on the field side of the fence, and noton theside next the road; and that hedges along road-sides shallbe kept low by their proprietors, or by order of the trus-tees, at the expence of the owners.

2. The position of Gates in new inclosures is first to beduly considered, and afterwards their size, and mode of con-struction. Their position must be determined, by consideringthe roads and other communications with which they are con-nected, the size and form of the inclosures to which they lead,and the purposes to which these are intended to be applied.

In regard to dimension , no field gate that is intended forcarriages ought to be less than eight feet wide; and if the re-sort of these be frequent, ten feet are little enough. Theheight, in order to form part of the fence, must be nearly thesame with that which forms the inclosure; being about five feet,when the fence is a stone-wall, intended to confine mountainsheep; and may be somewhat less, when the fence consists ofthorns or other live-hedge, and is intended for cattle.

With respect to construction , there may be room lor selec-tion, out of the various forms now in use, and which will beafterwards described. Strong and durable materials, how-ever, ought always to be preferred for gates and posts in eve-ry instance; as weak and perishable materials are continuallyoccasioning accumulated charges, . in repairs and renewals.With this view, therefore, and considering lightness also asan object, stone-posts, when such can be conveniently andcheaply procured, and durable resinous timber for the gates,