FENCES. 173

because it splits easily into long clefts, and
also because it is very durable.

“Then there must be some contrivance
for keeping the rails up, and there are several
plans. One way is to lay them, like a log
fence, with short pieces across the ends; but
this is not a good way.”

“Why not?” said Rollo.

‘The rails are not heavy enough to keep
themselves firm in their places, as the logs
are. So they have other modes. There,”’
continued Mr. Holiday, pointing over into a
field, ‘‘ there is one way.”

The children looked, and saw a fence
made of rails laid in a zigzag form, in such
a manner that the ends of the rails at the
corners were laid across one another, so as
to be supported without any post.

“That is a very common way of making
a rail fence,” said Mr. Holiday, “and there
are two advantages in it. One is, it saves
the trouble of making posts, and the other
is, no part of it is under ground to rot
away.”

‘““Why don’t they always make rail fences
so, then?” said Rollo.

‘‘Because,”’ said his father, “in the first

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