133 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



nearly invisible ; and when formed of proper materials 

 and well constructed they are very durable^ and as 

 efficient as a fence can well be. The nse of iron rods 

 screwed into each other, in place of the top wire and of 

 the third wire from the ground_, improves greatly the 

 common wire fence. We lately inspected a fence of 

 this description which had stood thirty -three years, and 

 found it perfectly sound, and likely to last for as long a 

 period to come. Instead of the above, iron hurdle- 

 fences are sometimes used, and being more moveable, 

 have their conveniences in certain situations. Wire 

 fences with wooden posts are at present pretty exten- 

 sively used. In relation to agricultural purposes, we 

 have nothing to say against them ; but we confess that 

 we regard them as offensive in the park, and we should 

 employ them only as temporary expedients. At a dis- 

 tance, they appear an array of wooden stumps stuck into 

 the ground without visible utility or connection ; and on 

 flat surfaces, where several lines may be seen together, 

 they are at once mean and monotonous. 



Sunk Fences have been generally superseded by wire 

 fences ; there are, however, some positions in which the 

 former are preferable, as we have pointed out when 

 speaking of the boundary and deer-park enclosm^es. The 

 proper place of the sunk fence in the park is where a 

 sectional division is wanted, while it is desirable to pre- 

 serve an apparent continuity of outline in a glade, or an 

 expanse of grass on a level or slightly inclined surface, 

 on which pehaps even the inconsiderable constraint of a 

 wire fence might be objectionable. The wall of the 

 sunk fence should never face the principal point of view ; 

 and from such points it is not an advantage for the line 

 of direction to be seen on end, and so to be enfiladed 



