GARDEN GATES 



simply a hushed joy over the quaint and careful beauty. 

 The walls therefor are low, the gates of wattled bamboo 

 or interlaced wood, bold in form, hung between high, 

 straight poles and topped by transverse beams inclining 

 upward at the ends. Old stone or bronze lanterns some- 

 times mark these gates, and bright-flowering trees are 

 planted beside them. Often the entrance is over a bridge, 

 and at times the garden is on a slight hill with flights of 

 steps, spanned occasionally by arches, leading up to it. 

 Now and then pagodas are built at the entrance to a large 

 garden, or the gate takes the form of a thatched cottage, 

 or is oddly carved, fantastic, or brilliantly lacquered. 



In America there is still much to do as regards both 

 wall and gate. One charming development of the 

 wooden fence occasionally met with, is the shingled wall 

 left to weather, with a latticed gate between higher posts 

 topped by balls or short spires and left gray or painted 

 red or white or green, according to the prevailing color 

 of the house. A fence of this sort is a complete protec- 

 tion from alien observation, while the gate allows just 

 the glimpse that gives so pretty a bit of information re- 

 garding the hidden Eden, demurring delightfully against 

 any accusation of selfishness which might be hurled at 

 the wall. Vines grow well on these shingled fences, and 

 the top can be treated in a variety of ways, all good. 



Several New England gardens have very high, wattled 

 fences that are simple and picturesque and form an ex- 

 cellent support for every kind of creeper. Wooden 



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