296 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



be made quite appropriate, even if the water supply for it has to be 

 secured by artificial appliances, sucb as the working of a ram at some 

 distance off, and the conveyance of water to the spot by pipes under 

 ground. Once get the water up there, provide a stone receptacle for 

 it, and lead away all overflow in the form of a rivulet, and nature 

 will soon plant the margins of the fountain and the rill with curious 

 wild flowers, and the birds of the district will make the spot a 

 favourite haunt for bathing, drinking, courting, and of course for 

 morning and evening concerts. The fountain on the hill at Oak- 

 shott flows over a rough oak cistern, fixed there by the villagers to 

 preserve a depth of water for dipping. It is almost hemmed in on 

 three sides with tangled vegetation, most of it lovely and rare, and 

 the shallow rivulet it makes in its course down the hill is completely 

 matted with sundew, lichen, lycopodium, Scutellaria, bog pimpernel, 

 and other of the choicest vegetation of heathy bogs. If it could be 

 transferred with all its accessories to some great garden, it would be 

 considered one of its choicest features, and perhaps attract more 

 visitors than it might be convenient to admit gratuitously. One 

 who would have water at the top of a favourite mound must be con- 

 tent with a rustic fountain, aud indulge fancy to any extent to make 

 it grotesque, picturesque, or severely simple. 



In the main walk water is equally admissible, but then we must 

 have an architectural fountain or basin. The style of the house, the 

 terrace, and the grounds must determine the style of the fountain. 

 If the house is a very plain edifice, and the grounds would need to 

 be described as "neat " rather than "grand," we should prefer a plain 

 stone moulding, a few graceful curves, and trust more for effect to 

 the sparkle of the water and the grace of the accompanying vegeta- 

 tion than to sculpture or fanciful rockeries. A fountain in a main 

 path, within view of the drawing-room windows, or readily acces- 

 sible from the house by a short walk, should certainly present itself 

 to ihe eye in a very distinct form, and should constitute a feature in 

 the scene. If so small as to be invisible until the visitor almost 

 tumbled into it, and so mean in character as to have no more dig- 

 nity than belongs to an accidental detail, every person of cultivated 

 taste would condemn it as an absurdity. If too grand for the place 

 it would be equally absurd ; in fact, if it cannot be well done, as 

 circumstances require, it should not be done at all, for paltry water- 

 works are more obnoxious than paltry earthworks, and betray more 

 quickly whether lack of means or lack of taste is to be accredited 

 with the failure. 



(To be continued.) 



