CHAPTER XIII 



THE FENCE 



Wherever possible it is wise to have a fence to 

 shut out stray animals. It also gives the moral and 

 legal suggestion, that within is property valued by the 

 owners, which they want protected. 



The old English ideal of a fence or hedge was horse 

 high, bull strong and pig proof. This is a good de- 

 scription of a really protective fence one that a 

 horse cannot jump over, a bull break down, or a pig 

 root under. 



For the average Children's Garden a fence forty- 

 two inches high will keep out ordinary stray animals 

 and allow people to lean on the top comfortably and 

 watch the children at work. 



A satisfactory fence is made with four by four inch 

 posts set eighteen inches deep, six to eight feet apart. 

 A ten inch bottom board set well into the earth. A 

 middle rail, and a top rail, the latter laid flat. The 

 spaces between closed with wire netting. One gate 

 is enough. The fence should be tight all around. 

 Use planed lumber. For this kind of fence the cost 

 for material is about $.20 a running foot. 



It is wise to paint the fence and give the post ends 

 and lower part of bottom board a coat of tar before 



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