ON WATER. 163 



be enriched with the different plants suited 

 to it. These plants, however, should not be 

 universally introduced along the margin ; as 

 a line of uninterrupted material, of whatever 

 kind, would destroy that variety, which is the 

 very essence of the beauty of a lake. 



A lake is more easy of successful imitation 

 than a river, as greater variety of outline can 

 be given, upon a moderate extent, to the 

 former, than to the latter. The lake, also, 

 may be complete, though on a small scale ; 

 whereas the artificial river can only be, com- 

 paratively, a small portion of the character it 

 assumes. The difficulty of concealing the ex- 

 tremities of the artificial river, so as to impress 

 the idea of continuity, will be considerable, 

 even under the most favourable circum- 

 stances ; add to which, models for lakes pre- 

 sent themselves upon a scale that admits of 

 entire imitation. Ponds on commons, where 

 the ground is of unequal surface, frequently 

 assume the varied shores of a beautiful lake. 

 Settlements of water in old pits suggest ad- 

 mirable hints to the same purpose ; wanting 

 only an increased extent, and judicious plant- 

 ing, to form a complete lake. 



Islands, if properly introduced, and well 

 M 2 



