Here, as in the case of Situation, I am supposing the garden about to be made. Those who already have gardens, have fences. They may improve them, indeed, upon my plan; but, I am supposing the case of a new garden; and, I am also supposing a garden to be made in what I deem perfection. Those who cannot, from whatever circumstance, attain to this perfection, may, nevertheless, profit from these instructions as far as circumstances will allow.

The fence of a garden is an important matter; for, we have to view it not only as giving protection against intruders, two legged as well as four legged, but as affording shelter in cold weather and shade in hot, in both which respects a, fence may be made of great utility in an American Garden, where cold and heat are experienced in an extreme degree.

In England the kitchen gardens of gentlemen are enclosed with walls from ten to sixteen feet high; but this, though it is useful, and indeed necessary, in the

way of protection against two legged intruders, is intended chiefly to afford the means of raising the fruit of Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Vines, which cannot, in England, be brought to perfection without walls to train them against; for, though the trees will all grow very well, and though a small sort of Apricots will sometimes ripen their fruit away from a wall, these fruits cannot, to any extent, be obtained, in England, nor the Peaches and Nectarines, even in France, north of the middle of that country, without the aid of walls.

Hence, in England, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Grapes, are called Wall Fruit. Cherries, Plums, and Pears, are also very frequently placed against walls; and they are always the finer for it; but, a wall is indispensably necessary to the four former.

In America a fence is not wanted for this purpose; but it is very necessary for protection; for shelter; and for shade. As to the first, gardeners may scold as long as they please, and law makers may enact as long as they please, mankind never will look upon taking fruit in an orchard or a garden as felony nor even as trespass. Besides, there are, in all countries, such things as boys; and every man remembers, if he be not very forgetful, that he himself was once a boy.

So that, if you have a mind to have for your own use what you grow in your garden, the only effectual security is an insurmountable fence. This prevents the existence of temptation, in all cases dangerous, and particularly in that of forbidden fruit: therefore the matter reduces itself to this very simple alternative: share the produce of your garden good humouredly with the boys of the whole neighborhood; or, keep it for your own use by a fence which they cannot get through, under, or over.

Such a fence, however it is no trifling matter to make. It must be pretty high; and must present some formidable obstacles besides its height.

With regard to the second point; the shelter; this is of great consequence; for, it is very well known, that, on the south side of a good high fence, you can have peas, lettuces, radish, and many other things, till ten days earlier in the spring, than you can have them in the unsheltered ground.