September, 1910 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



337 



A privet hedge forms a fine enclosure for a garden 



lecting plants for these bankings, one should always con- 

 sider harmony of color between the flowers of the banking, 

 and those covering the fence. True, it is not as difficult to 

 combine floral colors out of doors, as it is to combine colors 

 of gowns or house furnishings, for all Nature is on tolerably 

 friendly terms, yet once in a while, as in the case of purple 

 bougainvillea and red geranium, and some other combina- 

 tions, colors are decidedly antagonistic, and their union 

 should be avoided. 



In the country, or in the suburbs, the fence is an Im- 

 portant factor in the home scheme. To its design, to its 

 material and to its building, much careful thought should 

 be devoted, for it is the "outside," and from its appearance 

 one is apt to judge of, and predict, what lies within. It 

 should in some way intimate the type of house to which it 

 belongs, formal or informal, pretentious or unpretentious. 

 To correspond with the Colonial house, the mission plaster 

 house, the brick or the stone house, one should install a 

 fence that looks a bit substantial, one a trifle more dignified 

 and serious than the rose-colored wire mesh, or wood lat- 

 tice. Masonry, combined with wood or iron intimates 

 strength and durability, and there are many admirable ways 

 of putting material together. By placing large square 

 masonry pillars fifteen or twenty feet apart all round the 

 premises, and running a low wall of masonry topped with 

 either wrought iron fencing or wood lattice between these 

 pillars, delightful results may be obtained. The pillars and 

 low wall may be built of plain red brick, cobblestones, field 

 stones, or cement, or all of these materials may be jumbled 

 together and make a good appearance. Pillars of stone or 

 cement topped with red brick, look better than those with- 

 out caps. Red tiles are also used for capping. In using 

 {Continued on page 370) 



A garden wall and steps built of cobble stones 



A garden wall ol rougfi surfaced brick and stone 



A splendid tree overhangs the gateway 



