Fences have many purposes, including security, privacy, and ornamentation, but not all wooden fences are alike. Do you want a rustic post-and-board fence or a colonial white picket fence? Do you need a gate for the driveway or a trellis for the roses? With some thought and planning, the fence you build can both fulfill your needs and enhance your property. George Nash describes the many types of wooden fencing and recommends certain kinds of wood (all common hardwoods, he says, are generally unsuitable, as they swell, warp, and rot too easily). He also tells how to apply for a building permit, develop a site plan, establish the level line, lay out, build, and maintain all the parts of the fence. It's one of the best references available on the subject, and certainly the most beautiful.