132 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



nearly invisible ; and when formed of proper materials 

 and weU constrncted they are very durable, and as 

 efficient as a fence can well be. The use of iron rods 

 screwed into each other, in place of the top wire and of 

 the third wire from the ground, improves greatly the 

 common wire fence. We lately inspected a fence of 

 this description which had stood thirty-three years, and 

 found it perfectly sound, and likely to last for as long a 

 period to come. Instead of the above, iron hurdle- 

 fences are sometimes used, and being more moveable, 

 have their conveniences in certain situations. Wire 

 fences. with wooden posts are at present pretty exten- 

 sively used. In relation to agricultural purposes, we 

 have nothing to say against them; but we confess that 

 we regard them as offensive in the park, and we should 

 employ them only as temporary expedients. At a dis- 

 tance, they appear an array of wooden stumps stuck into 

 the groipid without visible utility or connection ; and on 

 flat surfaces, where several lines may be seen together, 

 they are at once mean and monotonous. 



Sunk Fences have been generally superseded by wire 

 fences ; there are, however, some positions in wliich the 

 former are preferable, as we have pointed out when 

 spealdng of the boundary and deer-park enclosures. The 

 proper place of the sunk fence in the park is where a 

 sectional division is wanted^ while it is desirable to pre- 

 serve an apparent continuity of outline in a glade, or an 

 expanse of gTass on a level or slightly inclined surface, 

 on which pehaps even the inconsiderable constraint of a 

 wire fence might be objectionable. The wall of the 

 sunk fence should never face the principal point of ^dew ; 

 and from such points it is not an advantage for the line 

 of direction to be seen on end, and so to be enfiladed 



