THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
simply as a tree would have sprung up from the soil. 
In general terms, leave the artificial behind you; and 
do not undertake to create a bit of city lawn right in 
the heart of nature’s lawn. Be simple and straight- 
forward in all your relations to the world around 
you. No directions of mine can guide you here. 
What you have to do is to make a thorough study 
of nature, and of what the brains of men are natu- 
rally called upon to do in the way of improvement. 
I have said nothing about fences, because there 
should be none. It is possible that you will locate 
where the stock law is not enforced; and you will 
then, of course, be compelled to protect your prop- 
erty. But fencing against our neighbors is happily 
becoming a thing of the past. Wherever it must be 
done, use wire, or, possibly, hedges. Hedges are 
invaluable on a highly ornamental place, but are 
less and less popular as line or division fences. They 
should never be planted by the street side. Wire 
fences, without barbs, can be constructed very neatly 
and stoutly and cheaply, and are so inconspicuous 
that they should be preferred to boards and pickets. 
Stone fences may be in themselves beautiful; and 
when run over with ivies or bittersweets are invalu- 
able as natural accessories. 
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