J 
1900 SUPPLEMENT —RECENT INTRODUCTIONS, &c. 479 
Landscape Gardening—continued. 
level of the alley, and the directions of the undulations, 
starting from them in varied forms to the lake, are marked 
in the sections AB, CD. 
Strong slopes, when the soil is of a loose nature, or 
when they exceed 45deg., must be supported by blocks of 
stone, -inserted in the ground at different places, and of 
which the tops only are seen. Steps can also be formed 
in the subsoil and the top soil; they should be well 
rammed down, in order to prevent any ‘“‘sliding.”’ As 
a rule, sufficient earth to form the groundwork of a 
garden can be found on the spot. It is really the 
quantity of soil available in a place which shonld guide 
the operations. The rough-cast of the work is formed 
with the subsoil. The thickness of the top soil required 
depends on the quantity at command; buat for a lawn, 
or for turfed borders and verges, a coat of 10in. 
to 1ft. is generally allowed. The portions which are 
to be planted will require a thickness of soil of at 
least 2ft. 
When the necessary thickness of top soil has been 
roughly spread over the surface, it must be levelled by 
taking with the shovel the soil forming the uneven 
surface, and filling up the holes with it, thus giving 
to the surface a finished appearance. Levelling is a 
delicate operation, which requires taste, clear sight, and 
practice. For this work one cannot absolutely rely on 
the points of level fixed on the plan. One has to be 
gnided by the effects produced. When the levelling has 
been done, the whole should be slightly forked and raked 
over. The limits of the flower-beds and the groups of 
shrubs should be marked, the yerges formed, the edges 
trimmed, and lastly the pegs should be taken ont. Only 
the sowing of the grass remains to be done. 
Water. Water gives a great charm to any Landscape, 
and whenever possible, it shonld be utilised in the creation 
of gardens. If existing, it must be preserved and its effects 
improyed. In creating water effects the gardener must 
restrict himself to natural fitness. A stream rushing 
oyer a stony bed, leaping now and again over a rocky 
barrier, and forming cascades full of boisterous life, 
characterises mountainous or hilly surroundings; while 
a placid lake or a qniet, sleepy river running in sweeps 
across grassy meadows belongs to the low-lying land: 
yet the latter in its proper position equals in effect the 
wild mountain torrent. Small lakes, it is true, may be 
met with on high grounds, but it is rather the exception 
than the rule. Varions effects are to be obtained by 
creating a lake with its ontlines forming bays, promon- 
tories, and creeks; but these must depend more or less 
upon the undulations of the shores and the surrounding 
grounds, and on the different obstacles the water has 
met with, or is supposed to have met with, in breaking 
its way through. When making a large lake, it must 
look natural, and the work of man must not be apparent. 
In a small place it is not easy to deal with the ont- 
lines of the water in the same way, for a small garden 
necessarily looks artificial. 
It may be necessary to hide from the view of the 
spectator, by plantations at certain points, portions of 
the lake, in order to vary the impressions created as he 
goes round. If the shores are flat and nninteresting, 
variations may be made by raising the opposite banks at 
different spots, and planting them with trees which will 
be reflected in the water. Trees must not fringe the 
shore, for they would impart to the water a gloomy 
appearance ; but single trees, especially those of pendulous 
habit, may be planted to hang over the water. Light 
must be allowed to reflect freely, giving freshness and 
colour to the scene. The views from the honse or other 
points of the garden should be directed towards the lake 
where the largest water prospect is obtainable. For the 
Same reason views on a river must be guided, if possible, 
up or down stream, and not across it. Islands give variety 
to the ontlines of a lake or river. They should not be 
placed in the centre, but on the side, and there should not 
be less than 16ft. of water between them and the main- 
land. If a bridge constructed, its narrowest point 
shonld be at right angles with the shore. The banks, 
where there will not be any planting, shonld be turfed 
below the water-lines. The slopes of the sides imme- 
diately below the water-level should be steep, so that 
when the water falls there will not be any muddy shore 
laid bare. The depth of the water should not be less 
Landscape Gardening—continued. 
than 4ft., in order to prevent a too rapid evaporation from 
taking place. 
lake must be constructed with great care, though 
it does not actually differ much from the work in 
connection with the formation of the ground already 
dealt with. If the earthwork consist only of an ordinary 
excavation, the earth obtained, when not needed to raise 
the level of the soil intended for groups of trees 
or to fill depressions of the ground, may be employed 
close by, in order to avoid unnecessary cartage and work, 
to vary the aspect of the shores, or to form plantations 
near the lake or the river. It may, however, happen that 
the excavation of a lake, or the modification of the bed 
and the course of a river, demand a special treatment. 
The soil may be boggy, rendering the task difficult. The 
work ought to be done in the winter, when the ground is 
hard, and in portions. Dykes of clay should be erected 
between the excavated part and the water, and the pump 
kept working withont interruption. The running water 
must be led away into ditches, and great care must be 
taken to preyent the flooding of the work by erecting a 
strong dam at the deviation of the stream. When the 
soil has been excavated to the intended depth the bottom 
of the lake should be smoothed, giving the necessary fall 
to the ground. It must then be made watertight by using 
either cement or puddle. In the majority of cases, when 
a solid foundation is available, concrete is used. The 
bed, when levelled and well rammed, is covered with a 
layer of not less than 6in. of concrete at the bottom and 
8in. on the sides. 
The concrete used should be composed of a mixture of 
three parts of broken stones or coarse gravel and two 
parts of hydraulic mortar and sand. This mortar itself 
is a mixture of two parts of sand and one of hydraulic 
lime. The concrete should then be well and evenly 
rammed, the surface made smooth with the back of a 
shovel, and left to dry for a few days. It should then 
be covered with a layer of Portland cement lin. thick. 
When puddle is used, the ground should be excavated 
to the required depth, allowing Ift. thick at the bottom 
and 18in. on the sides. Puddle is prepared by cutting 
clay, pouring water on it, and treading it until it is 
plastic enough for use. When it has heen applied on the 
surface, it must be well trodden and rammed. The shores 
can be solidified, if the ground should happen to require 
it, by driving in a few pegs at the edges with branches 
and interlacing them. If there is any fear of the shores 
getting washed away, the side can be covered under the 
water-line with coarse stones. 
A lake may also be formed by utilising a stream and 
erecting across its lower end a strong dam of one and 
g half to three of base to one of height. This dam 
should be built up in layers of clay, well rammed, and 
supported by earth. The surface could be planted with 
grass and shrubs, but not with trees, as the roots of 
the latter, when shaken by the winds, would loosen the 
soil and allow the water to run through. The top of 
the dam must be at least 5yds. or 6yds. wide, according 
to the nature of the soil employed and the volume of 
water to be kept back, and 5ft. above the water-line. 
Rocks may be seattered about the shores, especially 
close to the inlet and the overflow, which may be hidden 
by the aid of plants. The sides below the inlet must 
be paved to a width of about 6ft. The inlet, the oyer- 
flow, and the emptying pipes must be built in the solid 
ground, 
Dratnine. Soil that is always saturated and boggy is 
necessarily cold and poor, as the circulation of warm 
air, which promotes the evaporation of the moisture, is 
prevented. The soil gets into a state of decomposition, 
rendering the existence of any sound vegetation im- 
possible. This condition is due to the subsoil being 
impermeable ; the cold water cannot, therefore, find its 
way through, and it must be led away by artificial 
drainage. ‘This operation consists in digging trenches, 
at the bottom of which pipes are laid to collect the 
water and lead it ont of the ground. 
The depth at which drain-pipes should be laid, and 
the distance at which they must recur, depend upon the 
nature of the soil. In heavy ground they should be- 
placed at from 2ft. to 3ft. deep, while in light soil 4ft. 
below the surface, and at intervals of from 20ft. to 40ft., 
would suffice. The collecting-drains must run parallel 
