Ill 



INCLOSURES 



IN nothing, I think, has modern gardening departed 

 so far from the gardening of the old fashion, as 

 in the matter of inclosure. Of course there has been 

 good reason for it, in the advance of civilization: yet 

 I cannot but feel it is the one great loss of all ; and that 

 we shall never have gardens worthy of the name until 

 it is, in a measure, repaired. Anyone who has ever 

 dwelt behind the security of even a common wire 

 fence, snug enough at bottom and high enough at top 

 to keep out both two- and four-footed prowlers, will 

 appreciate the truth of this, I am certain. 



Whatever the present attitude on the subject may be, 

 however, it is an absolute certainty that no old garden 

 was ever without its inclosure. And so instinctive was 

 the impulse to set apart, that inside the main defense 

 which shut out the rest of the world secondary divi- 

 sions were again divided, and these in turn outlined. 

 Thus from the great wall or palisade right down to 

 the fragrant, stubby little edging of sheared thyme 



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