64 The Wild Garden 



idea may well be kept in view; for though we 

 may make a fence of beautiful native plants, fences 

 in pretty positions near the house may be made more 

 beautiful and interesting by adding perfectly hardy 

 plants of other countries. It gives us a means of 

 varying fences which is often surprising, and we may 

 tie them together with graceful climbers which are 

 not of our own country, though none surpass our 

 Honeysuckle wreathed over a fence. I use Sweet 

 Brier largely, and have for several years planted thou- 

 sands in fence making. As this plant is not native in 

 all parts of our country, it may be considered as worth 

 introducing as any exotic ! The odour from the early 

 days of spring fills the field, and then there are 

 the summer flowers, and the bright Hips for autumn 

 and winter days. Its advantages are that cattle do 

 not eat it, and that the flower or fruit-laden branches 

 swing careless into the field, when Hazel and other 

 things would be eaten back to the stump. The shoots 

 are so fiercely armed with spines that cattle respect 

 it, and it is a fine aid in live fence making. In 

 building our fence some young Sweet Briers should be 

 put alongside the bank, while Quick and the essential 

 fencing plants that we may prefer for the spot go on 

 the top. The same thing applies to the wild Roses, 

 the common Dog Rose of England being excellent. 

 Other Roses will be found useful, such as the Japanese 

 and the Needle Rose (R. acicularis). Different kinds 

 of Bramble too are excellent, and often beautiful in 



