378 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
May, 1914 
lines or follow a curve from 
post to post 
There is a form of tight 
board fence that is occa¬ 
sionally used, and one that 
does not allow the joints be¬ 
tween the boards to open up. 
The boards, while set verti¬ 
cally, are lapped in the same 
way as siding or clapboards 
on the walls of a house, and 
they are nailed where they lap 
so that each board is held 
firmly to the next and to the 
rail. Use for these boards not 
less than one inch in thick¬ 
ness. 
If you have a broad ex¬ 
panse that you do not care to 
have broken by the line of a 
fence, a sunken fence can be 
used, which is merely 
an ordinary fence set 
in a hollow. This de¬ 
pression, or little val¬ 
ley, should have sides 
steep enough to shut 
off a view of the 
fence, but at the same 
time not so steep but 
verdure will grow. It 
is evident that unless 
this form is used 
where there is good 
natural drainage this 
valley would become 
at times a river or 
possibly a swamp. 
The fences spoken 
of above are simple 
both in design and in 
construction, yet it is 
surprising what pleas¬ 
ing and charming ef¬ 
fects result from a 
careful study of the 
relation of one mem¬ 
ber to another;that is 
to say, their proportion. The 
spacing of the pickets or 
boards has also much to do 
with the final appearance. In 
general where slender mem¬ 
bers are used (as pickets) the 
distance between, or the void, 
should be somewhat larger 
than the width of the vertical 
piece, while in the case of 
boards, the void, if made less 
than the board itself, gives a 
solidity appropriate to this 
particular type. 
When we come to fences of 
a more decorative character 
an almost unlimited number 
of forms are encountered. 
The first step beyond the com¬ 
mon picket and board fence 
is one where pickets are still 
used, but the post is treated 
more elaborately ; usually with 
architectural members; that 
is, it has a base, shaft and 
cap. If classical in spirit, the 
accepted classical moldings 
are used to form these mem¬ 
bers. The shaft may have 
plain sides or panels; the top 
often terminates in a finial 
such as a vase, urn, ball or 
pineapple. 
Next the rails are devel¬ 
oped by having moldings and 
the pickets become square 
balusters, or are even turned 
on a lathe. The whole fence 
then becomes purely archi¬ 
tectural, and is treated in the 
same way, both as to 
design and construc¬ 
tion, as any other 
architectural feature. 
As this type is for¬ 
mal to the last degree, 
it is better used in 
close proximity to 
the house, or, if in the 
garden, it should have 
some relation to the 
main features, such 
as casinos, pergolas, 
retaining w^alls and 
the like. 
Perhaps we are 
more interested in 
those informal types 
wich combine free¬ 
dom and formality; 
such as are found in 
the Colonial period 
of our own country. 
How well these old 
fences reflect the 
spirit of the times! 
The same grace and 
charm entered into their de¬ 
sign as in the design of the 
doorways, mantel-pieces and 
furniture. Like all the wmrk 
of the best period, refinement 
was the keynote. What de¬ 
lightful results were obtained 
by combinationus of a com¬ 
paratively few forms! The 
illustrations give a much 
clearer idea of this than the 
text possibly could, and they 
also emphasize the old fact 
that in good design, original¬ 
ity lies not so much in the in¬ 
vention of new forms as in 
new combinations of old and 
accepted forms. In other 
words, arrangement. 
A good example of a wall of faced stones of irregular sizes and shapes, but well 
laid to harmonize with the style of building 
In excellent keeping is this fence of Colonial motif. The square pickets rest on an impregnated wood 
base and pass through holes in the rails; the double row of short members lends attractiveness to 
the design 
This concrete fence is built in forms and is reinforced with steel uprights. The 
ornament is also of concrete cast in molds. A slightly roughed surface gives a 
texture effect 
