GAEDEN FUENITUEE. 



359 



" The varieties of fences are numerous, and range from the rudest barriers, without 

 nails or ironwork, to the highest grade of architectural pallisading. The fences 

 admissible into the picturesque style should 

 be of the simplest construction, and, except- 

 ing the ha-ha and chevaux-de-frise^ chiefly 

 of a rustic character. They are formed of 

 young larch trees, generally on account of 

 their being straight, and, being the thin- 

 nings of plantations, they are unfit for pur- 

 poses requiring more strength. 



"Figs. 15 and 16 are of this description. ^ 

 They are generally fixed structures, although Fig. 15. 



they may be easily constructed in separate pieces, and fitted up after the manner of 

 portable hurdles. The side-posts or uprights should be of sufficient size to give, not 

 only in appearance but in reality, the neces- 

 sary strength. The longitudinal rails, or prin- 

 cipal members, may be of less size ; while the 

 pieces used for the minor details should be 

 proportionably more slendei', as less strength 

 is required of them. The chief difficulty in 

 the construction of rustic fences is procuring 

 proper material ; and this difficulty is increased 

 as we depart from straight lines. When 

 curved lines are used, then dependence must be placed on wood of a flexible nature, 

 such as the willow, hazel, mountain or common ash, &c. Much of the elegance of 

 such fences depends on the correctness with which the joints are fitted together ; and 

 to do this in the best manner, mitred joints only should be employed. It is also of 

 much importance, so far as appearance goes, that the bark of the wood be carefully 

 preserved. No doubt rustic fences of peeled wood are often very prettily constructed ; 

 but these, till softened down by age, have a very harsh 

 appearance, and few attempts at painting them have been 

 very successful. Those colors which most nearly resemble 

 the natural bark are the best, and greens and reds are the 

 the worst of all. 



" The highest grade of rustic fences is represented by fig. 

 17. They may be made portable, and moved about like hurdles, or be stationary 

 and in continuous pieces as far as the fence extends. They may be barked or 

 unbnrked, according to taste, but should never be painted. 



Fig. 17. 



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