Fig. 393.

(2342.) A very common dead-fence for protecting hedges and grass from stock in spring and summer, is the common wooden paling. It is represented by fig. 393. If tall-grown Scots fir, 8 inches in diameter, can be procured at no great distance, or are grown upon the property of which the hedges are to form a fence, better materials for temporary fencing of young thorn-hedges need not be desired. Trees of that size will cut up into deals, which besides the outside slabs, will divide up the middle for rails of perhaps 24 feet in length. The same trees, quartered, will make stakes, which, if cut off at 4 feet in length, and pointed, are fit for use. Weedings of plantations, either of Scots fir or larch, are also very convenient for cutting up into paling, either entire or sawn up the middle. Stakes as a should be driven by a mallet, fig. 218, 15 inches into the ground at 5 or 6 feet asunder, and, when hardened, the ground is opened by the foot-pick, fig. 37, or driver, fig. 219; and they will support a fence of 3 feet 3 inches in height. Two rails are sufficient to fence cattle, but three are required for sheep. To give additional strength to the fence, the rails should be nailed on the face of the stakes next the field, and made to break-joint so that the ends of all the three rails shall not be nailed on the same stake; nor should the broad ends of the rails be nailed together, even though thinned by the adze, but broad and small ends as seen at bbb, on different stakes, in order that the weight and strength of the rails may be equalized upon them. To make the paling secure, there must be a short stake driven behind and a stay-rail nailed to every third stake. The upper rail should be nailed near the top of the stakes, the lowest edge of the lowest one 6 inches above the ground, and the upper edge of the middle one 20 inches from the ground. A paling is set up in the same places as a deadhedge. The best nails for paling are what are called "Scotch made stout paling nails," from 3 to 3 inches long. Such a paling, where wood is not scarce, costs 1s. 2d. per rood of 6 yards. In the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright wood is so cheap, that a paling of 4 rails, with stakes at every 4 feet, can be put up for 9d. or 10d. the rood of 6 yards; and, I dare say, so it may in the interior of other parts of the country where wood is plentiful. Charring the points of the stakes, for paling or stake-andrice, no doubt incurs some additional expense, but it renders them much nore durable.

a

THE COMMON WOODEN PALING.

(2343.) Lord Kames says, and there are farmers who seem to adopt

the opinion, that "the hedge is fenced from cattle on the one side by the ditch; but it is necessary that it be fenced on both sides. The ordinary method of a paling is no sufficient fence against cattle; the most gentle make it a rubbing-post, and the vicious break it down wantonly with their horns. The only effectual remedy is expensive; but better no fence than one that is imperfect. The remedy is two ditches and two hedges, with a high mound of earth between them."* We are left to infer from this that a paling is not sufficient protection to a hedge, but that two ditches and a mound are, and other writers promulgate the same opinion. It is surprising to hear persons acquainted with stock asserting that any ditch of ordinary dimensions, connected with it, can protect a hedge against them. When such a notion prevails amongst farmers and landed proprietors, no wonder that thorn-hedges are frequently seen in a ruinous state. Surely if a good paling is no protection, much less will a small ditch and mound be. Where two ditches are formed, they require as much paling as a single hedge, before and behind, besides the disadvantage of taking up a larger space of ground; and if gaps cannot be prevented in hedges but by double rows of thorns, they must be negligent hedgers indeed, that have the management of them. The truth is, a fence, of whatever material it is made, is absolutely necessary on both sides of a young thorn hedge, when that hedge separates fields that are pastured; and of what material that fence may be constructed depends, of course, on the facility with which it may be obtained.

(2344.) The only disease incident to young hedges in spring is blight. It is occasioned by the sudden evaporation of hoar frost, in a calm atmosphere, from the young leaflets of the hedge, by a powerful rising sun. The sudden evaporation causes so intense a cold as actually to destroy vitality in the tender parts of the plant which have just burst into leaf, and the consequence in a few days afterwards is seen, in the young leaves and tender shoots bearing the appearance of having been severely scorched by fire. I have frequently observed this scorching, to a partial extent, on the east sides of hedges that run north and south, the side next the rising sun; but in spring 1841, the affection was so severe and extensive, that not hedges only suffered, but large beech-trees of upwards of 100 years old, that came early into leaf, literally died in the ensuing winter. A hedge so scorched will be leafless all summer on the part scorched, and if the autumn is favourable to vegetation, may put out a few feeble shoots, which will easily be destroyed by severe frost in winter. Next season, however, more vigorous shoots will appear, and in the end the hedge may recover the severe check it has received, and it will feel it the longer the younger the hedge. I need hardly caution you not to allow a hedge so affected to be switched until it has perfectly recovered.

*Kames' Gentleman Farmer, p. 278.

52. OF HIRING FARM-SERVANTS.

"Touchstone.

thou art raw.

Corin. Sir, I am a true labourer; I earn that I eat, get that I wear; owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness; glad of other men's goods, content with my harm; and the greatest of my pride is, to see my ewes graze, and my lambs suck."

AS YOU LIKE IT.

(2345) Married farm-servants are usually engaged for the year, and the period at which they are engaged is the beginning of March. This season of engagement is in every respect favourable to the servants, but not for the masters. The servants are thus secured in their new service long before the term of departure from the old, and the engagement being made early in spring, enables them to put the summer crops into their new gardens, possession of which is given them at that early period. On the other hand, the disadvantages attending so early an engagement to the masters are, that having secured another service, indifferent servants have a temptation to perform their work for the future in a slovenly manner, and malicious ones have a long time to wreak vengeance against their masters in the ill-treatment of their horses. Good and conscientious servants will be guilty of no dereliction of duty, even in the prospect of leaving the situations they like; but then such servants are seldom parted with. Various are the circumstances which cause a separation between master and servant. The servant may become unable for the work he has long performed; his wife may be a troublesome person, and this is not an unfrequent cause of a man being obliged to leave a good place; his family may be guilty of many peccadilloes, in despite of their parents' injunctions; the man himself may have a peevish temper, and desire a change. On the other hand, as regards the farmer, an unpleasant son may succeed a judicious father; he may be unreasonable, and frequently find fault without much cause, an injustice which a well-disposed servant cannot long endure. As no perfection can be found in either master or servant, it is obviously the interest of both to exercise mutual forbearance; the master should overlook many failings, provided he perceives the servant perform his duties from principle, and the servant should endeavour to please his master cheerfully, even in what he may consider his whims. If these rules were mutually observed, there would be fewer flittings at terms than is the case at present. Both parties should consider that their new move may place them in a worse position than before; at the same time, it

must be owned, that a servant of slow habits, however honest he may be, is a great bar to the work of a farm, where it is carried on in a smart way; and it is a constant source of irritation to retain a servant whose daily conduct excites suspicions of his integrity.

(2346.) Unmarried farm-servants, who live in bothies, are usually engaged or re-engaged on the term-day; but those who live in the masters' house are usually spoken to, to remain in their service, 40 days before the term. Domestic female servants, and those engaged by married ploughmen to do farm-work, commonly called bondagers or fieldworkers, are placed on the same footing. All single servants are engaged for a half-year only.

(2347.) Farm-servants are usually engaged in the hiring-market of the neighbouring town or village, and they seldom exhibit written characters from the masters whom they are serving, referring only to them by name; and should they be found in the market, inquiry is made, but if not, an engagement is made from appearance and conversation. This is doubtless an unsatisfactory mode of hiring, and, to obviate it, it has been proposed to open registers, in which the names of farm-servants of established character and of places may be entered, on payment of a small fee by those who may desire to inspect them. The plan of such a registry was established at Forres in Morayshire, in 1838, by Mr Robert Mitchell, and it is said to have worked well hitherto. At the end of the first year, on 31st July 1839, the number of names entered on the list was 267; at the end of the second year, in 1840, it increased to 636; and at the end of the third year, in 1841, it had risen to 1110. Both masters and servants seem to approve of the plan; and I have no doubt that similar good effects would follow the establishment of a similar registry in every hiring market. "Such a registry would have, in the first place, the effect of procuring agreeable situations for servants of excellent character; and it would, probably, in time, have the moral effect of shewing the careless servant that the industrious, obedient, and skilful, will always be preferred, and this lesson, it is hoped, may have the effect of making the indolent and vicious amend the error of their ways." (2348.) On hiring every sort of farm-servants, I would recommend a clear understanding be had with them; and the simplest plan of avoiding misconceptions of the duties to be performed by servants is, to hire them to do whatever they are desired. It is necessary to make this stipulation, for some servants are so fastidious as to the nature of their duties, that they will refuse to perform any other than what they were

Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, vol. xii. p. 298.

specially hired to do. For example, if a man has been hired to drive a pair of horses, he will cheerfully do whatever is done with the labour of horses, but may demur to do any other work when his horses are not employed; and yet very urgent work may have to be done at a time when horses cannot be employed, such as letting off water from land, and many others. In like manner, a dairy-maid may refuse to feed pigs or poultry; and domestic servants may refuse to work out of the house; and it is no uncommon case to hear shepherds and gardeners refuse to do anything, however needful, and however conducive to their master's interest, but what is immediately connected with their respective specific duties. It may be expedient for the shepherd to bind or fork corn at harvest, and for the gardener to cut grass for the work-horses; but these necessary operations will not be performed by either, unless both have been engaged to do what they are desired. course, it is always best for labour, to have it performed by those best acquainted with it, and this being the case, it will be the interest of the master himself to use a wise discretion in putting the stipulation into practice.

Of

(2349.) It may be useful to give here a succinct view of the law of contract of hire between master and servant, as it will tend to shew the relative obligations which subsist betwixt them. 1. Hiring. It is not necessary to give arles to servants when hiring them; and even after receiving them, servants may resile from the bargain, if it is the custom of the district (Ersk. III. 3, 14.). Farmservants are presumed to be hired by the year, if no period be agreed on (Finlayson, 1829.). In this same case (June 6. 1829, 7 S. D. 717.), a grieve or farm-steward is held to be engaged for a year. If a servant is engaged for a shorter period than half-a-year, or longer than a year, a written agreement should be made out and agreed to by both parties, otherwise, on the servant denying the period, he may, in the first case, be found entitled to full half-ayear's wages. Either party may refer the engagement to the oath of the other (Tait, Just. Peace, 459.). Should the servant be brought from a distance, it has been found that the hirer is liable in the expense of bringing him, but not in the expense of his return, unless otherwise agreed on (Baird, 1799, 5 B. S. 514.). By 4th Geo. IV., c. 34, persons contracting to serve, and deserting their service after entering on it, are liable to imprisonment.-2. Master's Obligations. The master is bound to receive the domestic servant to his situation, and give bed and board, should no agreement be made to the contrary, for the term of service (Bell's Prin. sec. 184.); and he cannot compel a domestic servant to live out of his house (Graham, Feb. 12. 1822, F. C.).-3. Responsibility of Masters for Servants. The master is responsible for injury done to third parties through the fault, negligence, or carelessness of his servants, while doing their master's business, but not for their criminal acts (M'Laren, 1827.). The master is not liable for the expense of a medical adviser, called in by the servant, different from the family one; nor will he be liable should the illness of the servant be brought on by his own imprudence; but when the illness is brought on from causes arising in the course of the servant's duties, the master is liable