Fences
From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia
There were two types of wooden fences used at Monticello: the post-and-rail, as seen in the image to the right, and the paling fence which was erected around the Vegetable Garden in 1809.[1] Jefferson considered wooden fences, dividing fields "as great and perishable work"[2] and, in one instance, substituted rows of peach trees for them;[3] in others he no doubt reverted to the free-stone wall. Yet, according to Garden and Farm Book entries, he never ceased using wooden fences for separating his farm fields. Live fences were introduced in 1805 to surround the orchards.[4] Stone fences were utilized for some enclosures, particularly around the earliest vegetable garden. Jefferson described plans for a stone wall in 1778: "...dry stone...23.I. thick at bottom, 19 I. thick at the top & 4 f. 3 I. high..."[5] In the semi-oval shrubbery circle on the East Front, an iron chain was used and, at least in one instance, he used a ha! ha!.[6]
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Footnotes
- ↑ Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Watkins, Monticello, 22 August 1808. Betts, Garden Book 377.
- ↑ FB 78
- ↑ Betts, Garden Book, 211-212.
- ↑ Ibid. 299.
- ↑ Garden Book, 5 November 1778.
- ↑ Betts 533.
Further Sources
- Jefferson Library Information File - Garden Wall
