Ok, now I am confused. The gates are made with four sticks on the two sides and two wood blocks in the middle. The fences are made with 6 sticks (two rows). That is how I have always made fences. You used two planks and the fences appeared and vanished? I looked at wiki and that that is what it showed- four blocks/2 sticks.
Is this a new recipe for 1.8? GG's answer makes me think so.
If the recipe changed for fences, are there any other altered recipes?
No, I haven't played 1.8 yet, just a little time in creative.