Fencing Work - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 82

Fig. 4.4 Barbed-wire fence in rugged terrain
lime concrete is used, it must be compacted to the best possible density, and left after
topping it with a little soil. Lime concrete should be considered only if reuse of posts
is not a high priority, since use of lime will destroy the iron of posts.
For lateral and in-line stability of posts, every third or fourth post should be strutted
with at least two other posts. The struts should be positioned neither in line with the
fence nor perpendicular to it, but in the diagonal direction so that two struts will
provide stability to the post in all directions. Special attention should be paid to the
corner and end posts, since no balancing tension of wires is available on such posts.
If necessary, two or more struts may be used to secure these in position. In many
cases, barbed wire pieces can be used as ties in lieu of the strut posts, thus saving
the cost of posts. Barbed wire can be wrapped around stone boulders which are then
buried into the soil to secure these. This will be possible only in heavier soils.
Stretching of barbed wire should be done only after careful inspection of the posts
for their firmness. The wire should be stretched tight and secured to the posts by tying
with a piece of mild-steel (MS) wire of appropriate gauge. The knots of the tying
wire should be cut flush so that it is not possible to untie these using hands alone.
Splicing of the barbed wire should be done with care and should not normally be
visible. Positioning of fence strands will depend upon the holes in the posts, but
many times an extra strand can be stretched by suspending it from the one above it
if this is necessary as an exceptional arrangement in a particular stretch of the fence.
Interlacing of wires is necessary in cases where biotic pressure and the premium
on plantation protection is very high. Old barbed wires can be used for interlacing.
Vertical strands should be carefully wrapped around the top and the bottom strands,
whereas in the intermediate strands it can be secured using an MS tying wire. Care