The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Fences

A SECTION of the Balquahollie board fence in York County, built in 1866 by John Perkins Bull, and given by him with its fine, commanding house to his son Bartholomew Hill Bull, on the occasion of his wedding. John Perkins' grandfather, old Bartley as he was affectionately called, came to Canada in the eighteenth century from Tipperary, and was one of those sturdy early settlers who made their way on foot some 350 miles from Montreal to Toronto to homestead and pioneer.

HISTORY abounds with hedges in most countries. Here is a Canadian black thorn, a lovely, disheveled but effective barrier, which, like white cedar, hawthorn, locust and box, may be occasionally found in Ontario. In England it is hawthorn and wild rose, or clipped and sophisticated beach, yew, privet, box and holly. In New Zealand it's gorse; in the Isle of Man, beautiful fuchsia; cactus in California, and laurel and holly in British Columbia.

NEXT come the ornamental iron fences. Beautiful things they are and were, but far too expensive for the average purse. More usually they were found around public buildings and gardens or churches, or in cemeteries. The one herewith shown is a classic example, and clearly illustrates the adornment and the detail. The magnificent iron fence around Osgoode Hall, in Toronto, already mentioned, has one most notable feature—its gates. These are of very odd and interesting design, being in a sense rather like stationary revolving doors. And can you guess why they were so constructed? To keep the cows out!

AND now we come to the gateways of the past, the present, and perhaps the future.