366 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



One can make an enduring and charming summer-house out of liv- 

 ing trees. An old Yew or a group of old Yews, or a low-spreading Oak 

 (there is a fine example of this kind of living summer-house at Shrub- 

 land), an old Beech or a group of evergreen Oaks will make a pleasant 

 summer-house, and with a little care for effect, and by pruning away 

 old and worn-out branches, so as to get air and room without injuring 

 the beauty of the trees, it is easy to form cool tents for hot days. 



FENCES AND DIVIDING LINES. The iron fence destroys the 

 beauty of half the country seats in England, and the evil is growing 

 every day. There are various serious objections to iron fencing, 

 but we will only deal here with its effect on the landscape. Any 

 picture is out of the question with an iron fence in the foreground. 

 Where an open fence is wanted, nothing is so fine in form and colour 

 as a split Oak fence and rails made of heart of Oak with stout posts. 

 A sawn wood fence is not so good. As Oak is so plentiful on many 

 estates, good examples of split Oak post and rail fences should be 



KO9 



Simple form of garden seat, Warley Place. 



more often seen. Oak palings are often used, and sometimes where a 

 good live fence of Holly, Quick and wild Rose on a good bank would 

 be far better ; but Oak paling is often a precious aid in a garden as a 

 dividing line where the colour of brick or other walls would be against 

 their use, or where for various reasons walls would not be desirable or 

 a live fence suitable. 



SUNK FENCES AND RETAINING WALLS. Sunk fences of stone 

 or brick are often of the highest value in the pleasure ground, and 

 sometimes near the flower garden, as they help us to avoid the 

 hideous mechanical fences of our day, and they are often the best 

 way of keeping open views, especially if planted with a gar- 

 land of creeping plants or wild roses above. They should be strongly 

 if roughly built, without mortar, and they may be a home for beauti- 

 ful plants. They should be made on a " batter " or slightly sloping 

 back, the stones packed close together, i.e. without much earth and 

 layers of alpine plants should be put between them. Retain- 



