OF ri-ExiSUUE GROUNDS. 



363 



trouble and vexation to the planter. Where they 

 are kept, nothing will save young trees from ruin, 

 but fences too high to be overleaped by these woolly 

 invaders. Several inconveniences arise from this. 

 Fencing is expensive in ornamental grounds. It has 

 a very clumsy and rude appearance ; and is conti- 

 nually calling for repairs. All these, however, must 

 be submitted to. Sheep, and cattle of every kind, 

 must be entirely excluded from parks where there 

 are young plantations ; for no herding will be suffi- 

 cient to preserve a multitude of scattered groups 

 and single trees from injury. Stone fences are in- 

 admissible ; iron-railing — which, when painted an 

 invisible green, is the least offensive to the sight of 

 any barrier, and, to a certain extent, and in some 

 situations, is even positively ornamental — is objec- 

 tionable on account of its expensiveness. The only 

 other alternative that can be had recourse to, is paling 

 of wood. In order to defend the trees from sheep, it 

 must not be less than five feet high ; and the bars, in 

 order to prevent the lambs from insinuating them- 

 selves, must not be more than nine inches asunder, 

 if nailed to the posts in a horizontal direction; nor 

 more than four or five, if placed in an upright posi- 

 tion. In order to make a paling secure, strong posts 

 should be driven into the ground a foot and a half 



