62 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



ment to different styles of architecture and dif- 

 ferent environment, since many things enter in 

 to cause exceptions, now and then, to what may 

 seem a positive rule. But as a beginning it is 

 pretty safe to say that the hedge is, of all forms 

 of inclosure, better suited to the average non- 

 descript place than anything else, because it 

 is, in itself, a compromise between the definite 

 elements of architecture and the indefinite qual- 

 ties of nature. 



The deciduous hedge has this about it, more- 

 over, which recommends it; it insinuates itself 

 into a community without shocking the sensi- 

 bilities of even the most conventional adherent 

 of the real-estate style of landscape, for it starts 

 low and only gradually becomes the full-fledged 

 barrier that it is proposed to maintain. And 

 while it is growing to its fullness of height and 

 breadth and effectiveness, everyone grows ac- 

 customed to it and comes to accept it as a 

 matter of course; whereas, if a fence had been 

 boldly erected it would have seemed a piece of 

 impertinence to the entire neighborhood, so es- 

 tablished are most neighborhoods in the thought 

 that garden seclusion and privacy is a direct 

 affront to neighborly privilege. 



So it is the hedge that shall have first place in 

 our considerations — not, be it understood, be- 



