The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-05
TABOO ON FENCES
They Materially Detract from Beauty
of Residence Property.


A jewel of Bennington is the little
park on the Main street side OF the
cemetery. 1t is more than beauty
spot; it is one of the cleverest pieces
of landscape gardening in Bennington,
and a striking example OF how easy it
is to create the impression that a plot
of ground is greater than it really is.
The we'll set masses and rows of trees |
on both sides conceal the boundaries
of the plot and create the impression
that there is beyond a large expanse |
! of ground which is a part of the same
property.
This appearance or size has been |
given-probably unconsciously-to a |
number of pieces of private property |
/ in Bennington, while many other OPP |
I portunities to do so have been solely |
neglected.
To give to property the appearance
Of a larger size than it really has is a
sham. However, the deception does
not hurt any one; this trick of the
trade does not even really deceive;
it merely enlarges the land scape pic
ture and renders it more pleasing to
behold, This desirable effect is
easily attained. One has only to walk
along any of the streets of Benning-
ton to obtain inspiration. Where the
boundaries of side and rear garden
are visible, there is nothing to guess,
but where the boundaries of the prop.
erty are not visible, the impression is
often created that two or more pieces
of property are really one large one.
There is nothing that destroys the
appearance of large size as much as
fences. hedges and walls, either on
the front, the sides or the rear of
property The beauty OF the newer
residential streets of American cities
is largely due to absence Of fences, to
: the fact that, from afar a succession
: of front yards looks as If they were
I one long garden, long uninterrupted
stretch of greensward.
+. What are fences good for anyway?
( On the front of property, they are a
J. mere Renaissance of the time when
farm stock roamed about town at will.
/. They are not a protection against
o malefactors, nor even mischieyious
: children. The people of this country
!. are civilized enough to need no re-
minder that they should not trespass
= upon some one elses property.
9 Fences between neighbors espec-
= tally SAVIOR spite or at least distrust
= and look as if the one or the other Of
the neighbors were afraid that a
/ bunch of flowers, or head of cabbage
5 may subrepticiously disappear. They
almost Invariably create the painful
: impression upon the beholder that the
neighbors do not live very neighborly
d togetho'
d Then, how much nicer look the open
IT space between two houses, when the
y two gardens appear like one. as when
4 they are divided by an ugly fence.
Moreover, there is not a single one OF
" these separation fences in Bennington
" which is not in ruins or otherwise an
4 eye sore.
Y The Middle West has not had the
10 time yet to become as polished rs the
IL East, but there are very Few towns
'e there, where public opinion and city
ordinances would tolerate fences as
ID they are in Bennington
TX The only thing that may be said in
r. favor of the maintenance OF some
/. fences is that they have been there 9
IS great many years There is, for III
n stance, the fence around the Bowlins
r Green. New York City. which is SAID
Sc to date from pre.revolutionary days
S. However, antiquity has an aesthetic
ne value only where 1t is not incongrous
4, Moreover. 1t Is not fair to indulge II
IL sentimentality at the expense of ones
d, neighbor and of civic beauty.
Wherever the taking down of al
fences has been seriously agitated il
town, property owners have willing
ly accepted the suggestion and. n,
xt doubt, that will be the case also II
bennington.
Il. Tomorrow we shall discuss the bes
IN means of maintaining good lawns.