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and the bitter willow, as by fuch a plan the farmer reaps advantages in otherwa»s, as well as that of a fence.
VVh ere hedges are made, the ditches, as has been {hewn, are either fingle ordouble ; the latter is more fuitable where much water is to be taken off from theadjoining land ; and, in cafes whefe the earth is well thrown up in the middle, atolerable temporary fence may be formed.
There is much variety in regard to the materials and the manner inwhich gates are condru£ted, as well as the way in which they are hung;fome confiding of two leaves, others of only one; fome moving on the centre,and appearing like two gates; others turning on one end; fome opening to onende only, others fwinging both ways by fuitable crooks and eyes. Where oak,afh, or other heavy kinds of wood, are employed for thefe purpofes, the hangingpods ought to be placed deeper and more firmly into the ground, as the gatesmade of thefe woods are extremely heavy, and confequently liable to drag thehanging pods forwards. But they are probably more durable than fuch asare made of the lighter forts of wood.
The Dutch willow’, and feveral other of the lighter kinds of wood, may howeverbe converted to the purpofe ofmaking gates,with verygreatadvantagetothefar-mer, as they may often be cultivated on wade fpots of the wetter forts ofground, and grow fo rapidly as to be fit for ufe in the courfe of fix or feven years.Gates made from materials of this nature are alfo, on account of their ligl tnefs,much more durable than is generally fuppofed. But whatever fort of wood ismade ufe of in the condrufting of gates, it fhould ahvays be perfectly dry andwell feafoned ; for if that be not fufficiently attended to, they foon begin to crackand give way when expofed to the weather, efpecially in the fummer feafon.
In the condruftion of the Jwing-gate, the bars are fo long, that too muchweight is often thrown upon the hinges, by whic they are frequently liableto be drained or broken ; and, unlefs the joints be put together with great cor--reflnefs of workmandiip, they foon give w'ay.
This, therefore, though an expenfive, is by no means a good form of gate.The double or folding gate, from the bars being only made about half the length,is found to be more lading, and not liable to the inconveniences of the above.It, however, requires an additional pair of hinges. Th Jlip-bar-gate isa formof gate often ufed, and which, from its cheapnefs and fimplicity, may be very