U5

Incfofng of Land.—1 Vails.

In refpcct to dry {tone dykes, or walls, he obferves, that “ if you live in acountry where good free-ftone can be eafily got, and lime can be procured at amoderate price, a dyke built of thefe materials will be little lefs durable than ahedge; although, in general, it will neither be fo cheap nor fo agreeable. But thatdry {tone dykes, unlefs built of the fineft quarried {tone, are of fuch a perifh-able nature, as to be fcarcely ever worth the expence of rearing; unlefs thefield that you would wilh to inclofe has plenty of {tones upon itfelf, which mufibe carried off from its furface before the field can be improved. In fuch a fixa-tion,” he fays, “ a man may in fome meafure be excufed if he fhould be tempted toput the {tonesinto dykes; becaufe the carriageof thefe materials may be faid tocofthim nothing, and he might perhaps be at a lofs how to difpofe of them in anyother manner. But in all other circumftances he apprehends it is very badeconomy to rear fences of this kind, as earthen or feal dykes can always be builtat about one-fourth part of the expence that thefe would colt, will anfwer allpurpofes equally well, and if carefully built may be kept in repair for any num-ber of years, at a very fmall expence*.”

It is likewife fuggefted that by' having the joints in thefe fences bound in alldireftions, the whole is rendered more firm and compafit than it could be madein any other way, and at the fame time more readily formed. And that as thechief inconveniences to which they are expofed are thofe of their being liable tobe torn or rubbed down by cattle, and to moulder away by the effefts of frol1,and the aftion of the air, it might often be advantageous to fet the banks withivy, fweet-briar, furz, or fome fuch kinds of plants, in order to proteft them.

As earthen walls, or fences of that nature, can be formed in mod fixations in theway that has been defcribed, at the expence of three halfpence or two pence ayard, they feem well calculated for inclofing where cheapnefs is a primary objefil.

Walls conftrufited in many of the modes that have been mentioned above, mayfrequently be made either more durable, or more ornamental, by being dajhed,lipped, or harled with lime.

For a limited number of years, where ftones can be eafily procured, there canprobably be little doubt but that walled fences may be preferable to modother kinds, as they can be readily repaired in cafes of accident, and keep cattlevery fecure. Where the land is poor too, with, much expofure to violent anddefolating winds, fo that live hedges cannot be eafily raifed, they may be foundthe mod advantageous fort of fences.

* Andcrfon's E/Tays, vol. I. p. 7.