Formation of a Vegetable Garden 



do not equal walls in general utility. They have, however, 

 their uses, and do not deserve contempt. For general 

 solidity a board fence can hardly be compared to a wall, 

 but if properly treated they will last for a considerable 

 time. To be made somewhat substantial, thick posts 

 should be sunk deep into the ground at certain distances 

 apart. Cross pieces are in turn nailed to these, and 

 then upright boarding is fixed. For those parts which 

 are to be under ground plenty of tar should be used, as it 

 keeps them from rotting, or the same purpose may be 

 served by having them charred. The other portion should 

 also be tarred, or first of all coated over with good red lead, 

 and then painted any desired colour. This latter course is 

 certainly preferable. Fruit-trees may be tried on these 

 fences, but they are not usually found to succeed well. 

 Rose trees and miscellaneous climbers, however, are suit- 

 able for covering them, and when well covered with trailing 

 subjects they form without doubt a very pleasing feature 

 of the garden. Wood railings are in themselves less un- 

 sightly than bare board fences, but they have the dis- 

 advantage of being less useful as a wind-break. On the 

 score of cheapness they are certainly preferable, and with- 

 out sacrificing strength an appearance of rusticity may be 

 given by leaving the bark on them. The pieces need also 

 to be pretty close if rabbits are to be kept back. Common 

 iron railings have nothing further to recommend them than 

 that they keep back cattle. In each of the two last- 

 mentioned cases it would be impossible to grow anything 

 close to the fence, if there were stock on the other side, 

 or it would surely be damaged. 



There are other means of fencing open to us which, 

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