Fences, Gates & Bridges: A Practical Manual

by George A. Martin

Overview

“The author, George A. Martin, knows his subject, not only fence building but the farm and its requirements. He knows the stock: the unconfinable pig, the dexterous cow. He knows his materials, especially wood. I count twenty-one species of tree in the text, each especially suited for a particular application. He knows the value of work well done, done to last, and he aims to give value himself, in authorship as in the building of simple necessary structures.”
from the Foreword by Castle Freeman

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780911469080
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/1999
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	727,563
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

	CHAPTER I.
	Rail and other Primitive Fences	7-17
	Virginia Rail Fence; Laying a Rail Fence; Stalking and  Wiring; A Fence of Stakes and Riders; A Pole Fence;  Fences for Soil Liable to Heave; Other Primitive Fences
	CHAPTER II.
	Stone and Sod Fences	18-23
	How a Stone Wall Should be Built; Building a Stone Fence; Truck for Moving Stones; Re-inforcing a Stone Wall;  A Composite Fence;  A Prairie Sod Fence
	CHAPTER III.
	Board Fences	24-30
	Building Board Fences; Fences for Land Subject to Over Flow; A Fence-Board Holder; Re-Inforcing a Board Fence
	CHAPTER IV.
	Picket Fences	31-42
	A Good Garden Fence; A Southern Picket Fence; Fences of Split Pickets; Ornamental Picket Fences; Rustic Picket Fences;  Light Picket Fences; Handmade Wire and Picket Fences; Fence of Wire and Pickets
	CHAPTER V.
	Barb-Wire Fences	43-61
	Statistics and Forms of Barb Wire; How to Set Barb Wire Fence; Unreeling and Stretching Barb Wire; Wire Strethers; Building Wire Fence on Uneven Ground
	CHAPTER VI.
	Fences of Barb Wire and Boards	62-67
	Combined Wire and Board Fence;  A bracketed Fence; Dog-Proof Fence
	CHAPTER VII.
	Hedges	67-75
	How a Stone Wall Should be Built; Building a Stone Fence; Truck for Moving Stones; Re-inforcing a Stone Wall; A Composite Fence; A Prairie Sod Fence
	CHAPTER VIII.
	Portable Fences and Hurdles	75-85
	Portable Board Fences; Portable Fences of Poles and Wire; Portable Fences for Windbreaks; Portable Poultry Fences; Portable Folding Fence; Temporary Wire and Iron Fences
	CHAPTER IX.
	Fences for Streams and Gullies	85-95
	Flood Fences; Portable Wire Fence; Watering Place in a  Creek
	CHAPTER X.
	Making and Setting Posts	95-117
	Making Fence Posts; A Post Holder; Driving Fence Posts by Hand; To Drive Posts Without Splitting; A powerful Post Driver; Setting a Gate Post; Live Posts; Mending a Split Post; Hook for  Wiring Posts; Drawing Fence Posts; Lifting Posts by Hand; Splicing Fence Posts; Application of Wood Preservatives; Iron Fence Posts.
	CHAPTER XI.
	Gates and Fastenings	117-164
	Wooden Gates; A Very Substantial Farm Gate; A Strong and Neat Gate; Light Iron Gates; Self-closing Gates; Gate for a Village Lot; A Chinese Door or Gate Spring; Lifting Gates; Rustic Gates; Balance Gates; Gate for Snowy Weather; West India Farm Gate; Gate Hinges of Wood; Double Gates; Double Latched Gates; Improved Slide Gate;  A Combined Hinge and Sliding Gate; Gates of Wood and Wire;  A Good and Cheap Farm Gate; An Improved Wire Gate; Taking up the Sag in Gates; Good Gate Latches;  Top Hinge of Farm Gate; Gateways in Wire Fence
	CHAPTER XII.
	Wickets and Stiles	164-170
	Iron Wickets; Wooden Wickets; Stiles for Wire Fences
	CHAPTER XIII.
	Fence Law	170-176
	Fencing Out or Fencing In; Division Fences; Highway Fences; What is a Legal Fence? Railroad Fences
	CHAPTER XIV.
	Strength of Bridges; Braces and Trusses; Abutments, Piers and Railings; Bridges for Gullies; Road Culverts
	Index	189-191

Editorial Reviews

Putting Up fences becomes less difficult, if one understands the principals and procedures, as explained in this book, first published in 1887. The 300 illustrations aid in comprehension. Included are primitive fences, stone and sod fences, board fences, picket fences, barbed wire fence and many other fence types and appurtenances.
—The Wichita Eagle

Frank Good

The author, George A. Martin, is like his book and like the sound, well-run farm his book evokes. He is plain spoken and brief, he comes right to the point, and he has an admirable way of stating unmistakably how parts go together. With his skill as a clear writer, the author also knows his subject-not only fence building the farm and its requirements. He knows the stock: the unconfinable pig, the dexterous cow. He knows his materials, especially wood. I count twenty-one species of tree in the text, each especially suited for a particular application. He knows the value of work well done, done to last, and he aims to give value himself, in authorship as in the building of simple necessary structures.
—From the foreword by Castle Freeman Contributing Editor, The Old Farmer's Almanac

Castle Freeman