23 



FENCES AND HEDGES. 



Some sort of fence is usually necessary to guard against intruders, or 

 to designate ownership, and the kind of fence used will generally be 

 governed by necessity. 



Whichever material may be used for outside fences, they should be 

 strong and substantial. Inside fences for ^uch purposes as that of sep- 

 arating the lawn from the vegetable garden may be of lighter construc- 

 tion, especially if a fence crosses a lawn, as seen from the house with an 

 open view beyond, it should be as light and elegant as is consistent with 

 strength and durability. In such cases it is often desired to conceal 

 the fence as an intrusive object in the landscape by adopting the sunken 

 fence. This may be described as a ditch-like excavation 4 or 5 feet in 

 depth, finished by a perpendicular wall on the lawn side and the ground 

 flatly sloped on the opposite. 



The propriety of persistently concealing the fence in such positions 

 may be questioned. Utility is a strong element of the beautiful, and if 

 no visible barrier intervenes between the pleasure ground and a grazing 

 field we at once condemn the incongruity. We can not distinguish 

 where the flower garden ends or the grazing meadow begins, and must 

 suppose that the cattle can perambulate the flower garden if they 

 choose; we can imagine the result, and we feel that a fence becomes a 

 necessity to separate objects that can not be united without injury to 

 one or both. Wire fences are well adapted to this purpose, as they are 

 so light as not materially to interrupt the view, and if properly con- 

 structed are sufficiently strong and permanent. 



Even in those happy communities where cattle are not permitted to 

 run at large some kind of fence will be necessary to designate boundary 

 lines of property. It has been claimed that the highest degree of rural 

 beauty is a village without fences or any other distinctive marks to 

 properties. As well might it be claimed that the best arrangement in a 

 picture gallery will be produced by taking the paintings out of the 

 frames and nailing the canvas to the walls. The love of exclusive 

 possession is the mainstay of society. Well-defined boundary lines to 

 property greatly enhance its enjoyment, especially when applied to 

 lawns and gardens. 



For this purpose the live fence is by far the most appropriate, and 

 that formed of evergreen plants the most permanently beautiful. 

 The Siberian arbor vitae, Nootka cypress, and hemlock spruce are 

 among the best for northern climates. In the South the Chinese arbor 

 vitse, Japan euonynius. and other evergreen shrubs may be added to 

 the list. If deciduous plants are preferred, a selection may be made 

 from the following list: Japan quince, buckthorn, elseagnns, Japan 

 privet; and, if a somewhat formidable fence is desired, the Osage 

 orange and honey locust will answer that purpose. 



Hedges are also useful as shelter to gardens, rendering them earlier, 



