March IS. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
445 
1 
Supposing, therefore, that the cottager wants to put 
up a fence around his garden, and that the neighbouring 
woods contain various kinds of trees, some of wliich 
the proprietor is willing to allow him to have for the 
purpose, and he, being of an ingenious turn, is anxious to 
do the greater part of it himself, as well to save expense, 
as also to have the credit of the work. If there are Larch 
Eir-trees tolerably straight, which at bottom may bo six 
inches in diameter, but which, at the height of twelve 
feet or so, are tliick enough to saw down through, so as 
to make two rails, this is a description of railing easily 
obtained, and a little axe-work, by those accustomed to 
the job, soon reduces the thicker end of the tree, so as 
to be no larger than is wanted for the double rail; a 
slight slip of the bark being only taken off at the top. 
Wlien a fence is by the road-side the posts ought to 
stand not more than five feet apart, therefore, rails of 
ten or fifteen feet suit best. If more than the latter, 
there is generally a third rail or more made out of the 
piece ; but whichever way it is, I would have the cottager, 
or amateur, make his bargain with the sawyer, that they 
should be all ready to nail up when they left their 
hands; and as the uninformed would like to know what 
ought to be paid for such work, I may tell him, that the 
sawing and preparing such rails ready for use is 
usually paid for by lineal measure, and from 3s. to 4s. 
per hundred yards is generally paid, varying according 
to the nature of the timber, and other circumstances. 
We now have to provide posts, which ought to be of 
another kind of timber; and I dare say many fingers 
will be pointing to Oak, but, somehow, I hardly expect 
that good Oak can be spared for this job, and small, 
young Oak is, perhaps, the worst wood of any for de¬ 
caying soon. I would prefer Spanish C'hesnut, Ash, or 
Elm. The tops of large, old Larch Firs are as durable 
as anything, only not very plentiful; and as it rarely 
happens that anything can be spared for a job of this 
kind large enough to be sawn or split, so as to make two 
or more, I would give the preference to Chesnut, or Elm. 
Next to those. Ash, Larch Fir, Maple, Sycamore, Scotch 
Fir, Beech, and Hornbeam, somewhat in the order they 
stand. Poplar and Willow, though lasting quite as 
long as the last-named woods, do not hold the nails 
well. However, as there is not always so much to 
choose from, I will dismiss that part, and merely advise 
the cottager, after having bis posts cut to tlieir proper 
length, to dress them up a little on four sides, keeping, 
or attempting to make them as straight as possible. 
The ground being marked out into lengths of five 
feet, post holes about two feet deep will do for ordinary 
fencing-posts, those for gate-posts to be more. 1 may 
observe, that if the posts are charred at the part just 
on the surface they will last much longer, and a little 
fire may be made, and the posts laid over it, propped up 
by stones for the flames to pass over them, they will 
amply repay the labour by tbeir increased durability. 
In general, four horizontal rails will be wanted for a 
garden-fence, the top of the highest being somewhat 
about three feet nine inches (or a little more) high ; the 
rails may then be nailed on, first simply sawing off the 
ends square, so as to occu()y only half the post, which is 
supposed to have its broadest side that way, and also its 
straighest one; for in preparing them due regard must 
be had to that, and however erooked the stuff may be, 
a practised eye can generally see how they can be made 
straight one way. The best rail must also be at top, 
and another being placed at a proper distance from the 
bottom, the intervening space can easily be divided by 
the eye ; but one thing I especially point out as im¬ 
perative, never to have more than two joints at one post, 
and let these be sueh as the first and third, or second 
and fourth. 'The utility of this plan will bo obvious 
to every one. J- Robson. 
THE SUBURBAN VILLA, AND COUNTRY 
HOUSE. 
{Coidinvedfrom page 414.) 
THE ATPROACH.—THE ENTRANCE LODGE. 
Tun first impressions which the mind receives from the 
I contemplation of any object, are generally those which it 
I retains the longest; and, indeed, if we are very much in- 
j terested in the examination, tliey are rarely wholly obliterated, 
i It becomes, therefore, desirable that any object, the 
presence of which is intended to exercise a pleasing influence 
I on a spectator, should first be seen by him from a favourable 
point of view. In accomplishing this, there must be no 
forced appearance, no evidence of restraint. It must 
seem to arise from the natural state of things; for the age 
is exceedingly suspicious, and when it detects an imposition, 
or, what is still worse, a clumsy attempt at one, it for a long 
time refuses to recognise real beauties without suspicion of 
trick or iirtifice. 
Now, in approaching a residence for the first time, we in¬ 
variably, though, j)erhaps, unconsciously, form a mental 
estimate of its character, as regards cheerfulness, heauty, 
I convenience, Ac., Ac., and every occupier is naturally 
desirous that the impression formed should be of a 
favourable character. Whether this shall be so or not 
depends very much upon the point of entrance to the 
grounds, and the direction of the road by wbich the residence 
; is approache'd; no matter whether such road be only a few 
rods or a mile or two in length. Let us endeavour to 
ascertain wdiat are the correct principles for guidance in 
forming an approach. 
It should be considered simply as a road to the house, 
and not as a circuitous drive to show off the extent or beauty 
of the grounds tlnough which it passes. The entrance-gate 
should, if the grounds are of any extent, be placed at some 
point not visible from the windows of the residence, and the 
residence itself should not, as a principle, be visible from 
the coach-road until the spectator has arrived near enough 
and in such a position that it can be seen to the best advan¬ 
tage, and if possible on, or on what should appear to be, a 
rising ground. Where the apin-oach can be made by a gradual 
ascent throughout its whole length, it forms a most agreeable 
I feature in itself, as well as greatly enhancing others, and its 
■ accomplishment should never be lost sight of whenever there 
I is a chance of realising it. 
I Er-om the entrance-gate up to the point where the house 
is first (d)served, the scenery in the immediate neighbour¬ 
hood of the road should be as attractive as possible; but 
I when the house is once in view every other object should 
appear subordinate; nothing should divide attention with 
I it; the road should proceed directly towards it; no deviation 
I must be attempted. Yet the road should seem to follow the 
natural irregularities of the surface if it he of an undulating 
I character ; but if fiat and monotonous, and destitute of trees, 
art must determine a graceful line of approach, and at the 
same time furnish sufiicient reasons for any deviation from a 
i direct line. A straight approach-road is rarely admissable, 
except when bounded by an avenue, an object, however, 
soinew'hat antagonistic to the prevailing taste. Yet few' 
appendages to a mansion ai'e so capable of inspiring the 
idea of grandeur as the approach to it through a noble 
avenue. Nor is such an appendage at all out of place when 
attacheil to houses of very moderate pretensions, if the style 
of architecture be appropriate. The destruction of so many 
noble avenues in the last century, during wliat may be 
termed the transition period of taste, or, rather, of fashion, 
in landscape gai'dening, from the formal to the ])ictures(|ue 
style, must ever be regi-etteil. For in most situations where 
deference to the, then, prevailing practice condemned them 
to the axe, they w'ere far more appropriate than the so-called 
. pictures(]ue arrangements to which they were sacrificed. 
I One of the most prevailing errors in approach-roads is .the 
indirect, circuitous, and often ostentatious, manner in which 
they lead to the house, rendering such roads, to quote a 
hajipy exiiression, reproaches rather than approaches to the 
residences to w hich they belong. Thus, in some instances, 
you enter at an acute angle with the high road, and after 
running parallel to it for some distance, and from which it 
is only partially hidden by a meagre belt of trees, you come 
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