DECORATIVE USE OF WATER 



fountains of this type as well us in the grander sort so often pictured. 

 The four fountains in the Hofgarten of Munich, which are witliout 

 architect ui-al embellishment of any kind, exemplify how inexpensive 

 fountains may be and yet excel in lavish water display. American 

 parks are gradually substituting such fountains for the old style iron 

 fantasies of fifteen years ago, many examples of which, however, un- 

 fortunately are still extant. It is not the less acceptable that the 

 change is frequently accomplished on the ground that concrete foun- 

 tains are more economical to maintain, there being no need of painting 

 in summer or boarding up in winter. 



COXSUMPTIOX OF WATER 



Fountains should not be designed so as to require so copious use of 

 water as to cause their remaining inert the greater portion of the year 

 or result in their being converted into flower beds. They should be 

 designed with an intelligent regard to the water supply available, so 

 that water may always be dripping from their brims. 



If the problem of water supply is a serious one in town or city, very 

 good results may be obtained by means of pools and water basins which 

 require merely sufficient water to keep the pool fresh. The glory of 

 the beautiful Park Monceau in Paris is the limpid pool at the centre 

 which reflects across its shimmering surface the soft lines of the 

 crumbling colonnade encircling it. In England there are endless 

 examples of still water surfaces contributing to the beauty of private 

 gardens, but water is rarely used in park design except where areas 

 are sufficiently great for the development of lakes or sheets of water. 

 The neighbourhood parks of lA)ndon are as dry of water as deserts. 



In the Vienna parks are found exceptionally good examples of 

 small naturalistic bodies of still water requiring comparatively insig- 

 nificant water supply. Nearly every instance, strangely enough, 

 shows application of the accepted English principles of pastoral 



212 



