THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 



119 



flowing, and the volume of the reserve, on which the works will have to 

 rely during a long drought, must to some extent determine the nature of 

 the ornamental purpose to which the water may be applied ; it may some- 

 times furnish a cascade, and send silvery spray through a rocky glen 

 clothed with myriads of mosses and ferns, or furnish a little spring or 

 fountain to splash over a stone into a nook full of freshness, and thence 

 flow to the lake again, or to fill the tanks which supply the garden. 



It must never be forgotten that the disposal of water-scenes 

 demands the exercise of great taste and judgment. "Water of 

 itself is always beautiful, but its association with objects of interest 

 enhances its beauty, and supplies also the justification of usefulness. 

 Where the space and circumstances admit, water should always be 



enriched by plantations ; clumps of trees, rustic buildings, rockeries, and 

 belts of shrub are appropriate accessories; but they must be adapted 

 in style to other surroundings, and the general character of the place ; 

 and there is a certain point at which to stop in the work of embellish- 

 ment, or the whole affair may be overdone. Architectural fountains and 

 the accessories of terrace water-works may be complicated and 

 elaborate, but whenever water is allowed to expand to show its gleam- 

 ing surface beside green turf and trees there must be breadth ; the eye 

 must be free to range in some one direction over lawns or other open 

 spaces, in order to render the thickening of sylvan scenes and the con- 

 fusion of bush and brake the more agreeable where the water is con- 

 ducted away from the dressed grounds and made subservient to true 

 rusticity. What a charm would be imparted to many a garden where 



