130 THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



167. There is probably a larger number of different styles of 

 picket fence than of any other variety of fence, and the most fas 

 tidious can always find some style, among so great a variety, 

 that will harmonize with his taste and fancy. There is greater 

 adaptedness in picket fences to many purposes than in any other 

 kind of fence ; and in some instances picket fence will subserve 

 a purpose which could not, practically, be accomplished with 

 any other kind of fence. As picket fences may be built of so 

 many different styles, he who aims to erect a picket fence which 

 shall be in good taste and harmony with his grounds and build 

 ings, if he knows exactly what he most desires, is not compelled 

 to search a great length of time to find a style of fence which 

 will come fully up to his ideas of what a picket fence should be. 

 There is an appearance in picket fence which almost always affects 

 surrounding objects more or less ; and not unfrequently a picket 

 fence of correct style, to harmonize with surrounding objects, im 

 parts a beauty to the scenery which a board fence of the neatest 

 style, or a stone fence, or hedge fence, would never impart. 

 Picket fences have all the excellencies which can possibly be com 

 bined in any style of fence ; they may be strong or fragile, costly 

 or cheap, neat and tasty, or awkward and homely, or ornamental, 

 or plain, to any desirable degree. No style of fence, in my own 

 estimation, adds more to the beauty of a spacious dooryard, or 

 lawn, than a tasty picket fence. Although a board fence may 

 be made as ornamental and tasty as such materials will admit of, 

 still a picket fence seems never to fail to satisfy the caprice of the 

 most fanciful. 



168. There is also an efficiency in many kinds of picket fence 

 which no other kind of fence possesses. A picket fence will not 

 only stop fowls from roaming on forbidden ground, but will often 

 be the means of keeping the productions of the fruit-yard and gar 

 den in safety from pilfering interlopers, who would climb over a 

 board fence and carry off, without difficulty, the delicious booty. 

 A picket fence is usually a difficult, dangerous fence to climb 

 over ; and for this reason, when orchards and fruit-yards and gar 

 dens have been encircled with a substantial picket fence, the pro- 



