Fences and Construction 17 



an object of derision and humorous 

 wonderment. Long ago that tree, now a 

 pathetic sight, was part of a " live fence " 

 in which many of his brothers were mal- 

 treated in the same fashion. The rest be- 

 ing cleared away, as the land was used for 

 other purposes, he, by some chance or 

 whim, was left a mournful relict of a long 

 forgotten boundary. 



When we come to fences of a more 

 decorative character an almost unlimited 

 number of forms are encountered. The 

 first step beyond the common picket and 

 board fence is one where pickets are still 

 used but the post is treated more elab- 

 orately ; usually with architectural mem- 

 bers. That is it has a base, shaft and cap. 

 If classical in spirit, the accepted classical 

 moldings are used to form these members. 

 The shaft may have plain sides or panels ; 

 the top often terminates in a finial such 

 as a vase, urn, ball or pineapple. 



Next the rails are developed by having 

 moldings and the pickets become square 

 balusters or are even turned on a lathe. 

 The whole fence then becomes purely ar- 

 chitectural and is treated in the same way, 



