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FOUNTAINS, FISHPONDS, AND ORNAMENTaII WATERS. 9& 



overflow of some fountain at a liigher level, or from an -^Rogsian or other well. 

 It flows in a thin sheet over a dam forming a gentle cascaate^ flowing away in 

 a similar manner at the lower end, being so contrived that only as much is 

 drawn oflf at one end as is permitted to enter at the other. Gravel walks 

 sm-round the basin, with weeping willows and other drooping trees, for shade 

 •and sheltei'. 



225. The first requirement for the formation of a basin of this kind is 

 "water, A small brook or spring, in the absence of water at a high level, or 

 an Artesian well, as we have said, is necessary, the water from either source 

 being brought under ground to the head of the basin. A level spot being 

 selected in the lower part of the grounds, and care taken to secure an outfall 

 for the water, the larger basin is excavated to the depth intended. The design 

 is supposed to be 24 feet wide by 48 long, the excavation for the basin 2 feet 

 4 inches, and for the side compartment 1 foot 4 inches. When bottom and 

 sides have been rendered perfectly smooth with the spade, and made 

 quite dry, a bed of concrete is laid down, 8 or 10 inches thick ; over this, 

 layers of tiles in Portland cement are laid. In the gardens at Gore House 

 four such layers of tiles are placed round tlie bottom and sides. When per- 

 fectly dry, a coating of cement will complete the basins. 



226. The walls separating the basin from the side canals are single-brick, 

 laid across, set in cement, and covered with cement when dry; the parts 

 designed for the entrance and exit of the water being formed in the same 

 manner. The moulding is now formed by running the moulding-tool along the 

 whole, while the cement is soft, in a manner well known to every workman. 



227. This, of course, is a case where brick or tiles and cement ai'o used ; 

 where stone is the material employed, the stonemason will be employed to 

 dress the stone after the design of the architect. 



22S. A canal of geometric figure, such as has been indicated, should be 

 surrounded by a broad gravel walk, aj)proached by other walks of some 

 length, marked by vases on pedestals, or other semi-architectural design, 

 with geometric flower-beds and some shrubs, so placed as to conceal it from 

 the rest of the pleasure-grounds. The plants for the central or deeper canal 

 may be om' native water-crowfoot, the marsh marigold, white and yellow 

 water-lilies, frog-bit, floating plantain, and other hardy exotics ; in the 

 shallow side slips, the yellow iris, the flowering rush and arrow-head, and 

 the greater acd lesser water-plantain, and the elegant Cape ai'um. 



229. But this does not necessarily exclude more formal geometrical flower- 

 gardens. On the contrary, in the immediate vicinity of such a piece of water, 

 side-walks, fined with yew, privet, or holly, might be made to lead to a cir- 

 cular grove of newly-planted poplars and cypresses, surrounded by closely- 

 cut square hedges of yew ; the centre occupied by a geometrical flower-garden, 

 where certain shade-loving plants, which suffer from the sun, might be culti- 

 vated. If the ground happened to be on different levels, much interest might 

 be added by training the water in gentle cascades round such a garden, before 

 it reaches the basin. Stages for vases and craamental flower-pots might be 



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