THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



simply as a tree would have sprung up from the soil. 

 In general terms, leave the artificial behind you ; and 

 do not undertake to create a bit of city lawn right in 

 the heart of nature's lawn. Be simple and straight- 

 forward in all your relations to the world around 

 you. No directions of mine can guide you here. 

 What you have to do is to make a thorough study 

 of nature, and of what the brains of men are natu- 

 rally called upon to do in the way of improvement. 

 I have said nothing about fences, because there 

 should be none. It is possible that you will locate 

 where the stock law is not enforced; and you will 

 then, of course, be compelled to protect your prop- 

 erty. But fencing against our neighbors is happily 

 becoming a thing of the past. Wherever it must be 

 done, use wire, or, possibly, hedges. Hedges are 

 invaluable on a highly ornamental place, but are 

 less and less popular as line or division fences. They 

 should never be planted by the street side. Wire 

 fences, without barbs, can be constructed very neatly 

 and stoutly and cheaply, and are so inconspicuous 

 that they should be preferred to boards and pickets. 

 Stone fences may be in themselves beautiful; and 

 when run over with ivies or bittersweets are invalu- 

 able as natural accessories. 



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