m 



ENCLOSING THE GARDEN: THE WALL, 

 THE FENCE, THE HEDGE 



In embarking on this subject, I should like first of all to give 

 my position with regard to the question, to enclose or not to en- 

 close; and this position has been so deftly, clearly stated by Miss 

 Grace Tabor, in "The Suburban Garden," an excellent guide to 

 gardeners, that I quote: — 



"I cannot express too earnestly the belief that nothing worth 

 while will ever be done with subiu-ban or any other gardens until 

 we restore the fences and walls so ruthlessly torn down and 

 abandoned around the latter quarter of the last century. Neither 

 will it be possible to accomplish much while our ugliest inspirsf- 

 tion is the work undertaken by real-estate development com- 

 panies. They were responsible for this destruction of boundary 

 markings in the first place, in their endeavors to make streets 

 'catchy,' by reason of their novelty, to persons passing through 

 them, every such person being of course a potential sale. And 

 because it is still the streets that the commercial designer wishes 

 to dangle as a bait before the indiscriminating, he will fight every 

 effort to restore privacy to private grounds and the thrusting out 

 from them of the public highway. There is absolutely no in- 

 centive to really fine garden work under the conditions which 

 are to him ideal, however, and as long as those are tolerated, 

 the art will languish. Be sure of that. Not until all places, with- 

 out exception, are enclosed completely, and have gates, too, 

 at their entrances, not merely unprotected openings, will th© 

 instinct really to make gardens awaken, and really beautiful gar- 

 dens appear." 



