FENCES. 



171 



FENCES. 



simple, but pretty, and they can be made 

 of hazel, larch, spruce, and indeed any 

 young trees. The bark should always be 

 left on, and the more numerous and 

 rougher the knots, the more rustic the 

 fence will be. Fig. I represents a fence 



f 



FIG. 3. WIRE FENCE. 



in rustic trellis-work. The bars of which 

 it is formed should be slightly notched 

 one into another at the points in which 

 they cross, so that they may have a better 

 bearing one against another and a firmer 

 holding than round sticks could possibly 

 have if nailed together without notching. 

 For the rustic mosaic work shown in Fig. 

 2, sticks of hazel, maple, willow, cherry, 

 &c., must be sawn in sunder lengthways, 

 and then cut into pieces as required to 

 form the mosaic. These pieces must be 

 nailed against a backing of stout boards. 

 It is more suitable for summer houses, 

 window boxes, &c., than for fencing. 

 Wire fences look better than these, and 

 their patterns and prices are endlessly 

 varied, to suit the means and tastes of all. 

 The patterns shown in Figs. 3 and 4 look 

 as well as any. Walls are occasionally 

 introduce^ into flower gardens, either for 



the shelter they afford in bleak localities, 

 their architectural effect near dwelling- 

 houses, or the culture of the more tender 

 plants in the open air. In all such cases 

 they should be formed of the best 

 materials, and either panelled or rendered 

 otherwise ornamental. They should 

 seldom be more than 10 or less than 6 

 feet high, although those who have seen 

 the enormous magnolia walls at White 

 Knights Park, near Reading, will feel 

 inclined to double the maximum given. 

 As a rule, however, the elevations named 

 will look best and be most suitable for 

 cultural purposes. It would be worth 

 going a hundred miles to see a wall 6 

 feet high and 50 yards long, furnished 

 with a collection of tea roses in full 

 bloom. If the wall were furnished with 

 a coping projecting 4 inches, so con- 

 structed as to prevent the drip of water, 

 and the roses were slightly covered in 

 winter with spruce branches, and sheltered 



FIG. 4. WIRE FENCE. 



with canvas covering from early spring 

 frosts, such a sight might be realised, and 

 a wall affording alike shelter and fence on 

 one side become an object of surpassing 

 loveliness on the other. 



