Garden Railings

For the purposes of separation, or of protection, an ornamental fence is sometimes required in flower gardens; and they impart considerable finish when tastefully designed: but usually they are very far from meriting distinction on that account. As varieties of design the pictured plate is introduced, some of which have been made, and being bronzed, and in part gilt, have proved both decorative and useful. They are designed to be chiefly made in iron, and the lighter parts, of strong copper wire.

Although these designs are suitable to the flower garden, they are not so as fences against cattle, or to separate lawn from pasture, or the latter from the shrubberies. Here the simplest are most correct-developed by four or five strong horizontal bars, finished by a chain at top, supported at equal distances by efficient standards; this is possibly the least obtrusive to the sight, and the mind is satisfied of its powers of protection, against the inroads of the cattle that may occupy the pastures.

In small grounds and where no other animals than sheep are fed, the lighter sort of fence composed of wire nettings, are suf- ficient for the purpose; and they may be rendered nearly invisible to a distant observer by color.