When the cradle is nearly filled, the fascine is compressed or _choked_ by the _fascine choker_ (Plate 30), which consists of two bars, 4 feet long, joined 18 inches from the ends by a chain 4 feet long. The chain is marked at 14 inches each way from the middle by inserting a ring or special link. To use, two men standing on opposite sides pass the chain under the brush, place the short ends of the handles on top and pass the bars, short end first, across to each other. They then bear down on the long ends until the marks on the chain come together. Chokers may be improvised from sticks and rope or wire.
[Illustration: PLATE 30.—Method of using the fascine choker.]
_Binding_ will be done with a double turn of wire or tarred rope. It should be done in twelve places 18 inches apart, the end binders 3 inches outside the end trestles. To bind a fascine will require 66 feet of wire.
Improvised binders may be made from rods of live brush; hickory or hazel is the best. Place the butt under the foot and twist the rod to partially separate the fibers and make it flexible. A rod so prepared is called a _withe_. To use a withe, make a half-turn and twist at the smaller end. Pass the withe around the brush and the large end through the eye. Draw taut and double the large end back, taking two half-hitches over its own standing part.
_A fascine revetment_ is made by placing the fascines as shown in Plate 31. The use of headers and anchors is absolutely necessary in loose soils only, but they greatly strengthen the revetment in any case. A fascine revetment _must always be crowned_ with sod or bags.
[Illustration: PLATE 31.—Fascine revetment.]
In all brush weaving the following terms have been adopted and are convenient to use:
_Randing._—Weaving a single rod in and out between pickets.
_Slewing._—Weaving two or more rods together in the same way.
_Pairing._—Carrying two rods together, crossing each other in and out at each picket.
_Wattling._—A general term applied to the woven part of brush construction.
A _hurdle_ is a basket work made of brushwood. If made in pieces the usual size is 2 feet 9 inches by 6 feet, though the width may be varied so that it will cover the desired height of slope.