87 



^^^H 



to the margin; as there is the same breadth or extent of water, and certainly 



an equally good effect is produced, when the water is shallow, as when it is of 



considerable depth. I urge it, therefore, as of the first importance, that a 



shelf or platform, four or five feet broad, should be fonned all round the 



margin of the lake, admitting only of water resting upon it to the depth of 



from six to nine inches, so that should even an infant fall in, its life would 



scarcely be in danger. (Fig. 31, a.) This platform may fall from the 



margin towards 



the water to the Figure 81. 



extent of four or 



five feet, at the 



rate of about an 



inch in the foot; 



the slope from 



that point must 



be much more 



rapid, until it 



ends in the deepest part. If white pebbles, or pebbles of any kind, or even 



small stones mixed with sand, could be spread all over the shelf, it would add 



much to the clearness of the water, and the general beauty of the water's 



edge. Ail the margin in natural and varied surface should not appear smooth 



and even, but nature should be studiously imitated; and this will be greatly 



promoted by allowing at intervals steep or deep earthy margins to appear, 



and large stones, and roots or stumps of trees, to present themselves in 



masses and groups. Of course the margins in polished or kept grounds must 



assume a varied appearance, without being rude. 



In all ponds or lakes, it is necessary to use puddle of clay, or finely sifted 

 earth, in places where embankments are made to dam the water, in order to 

 prevent leakage. In such parts, I should propose the puddle-dike to be made 

 in the ledge, or shelf above-named, where, I think, it would be the least liable 

 to be injured by the roots of trees and bushes. The bottom of the lake, also, 

 when the materials are not naturally retentive, will require puddling, especially 

 about and under the dam, or other raised parts. 



Trees and bushes are indispensable as embellishments to water. They 

 are important for concealing the real extent of a lake, besides producing 

 light and shade; and their shadows, moving playfully on the glossy water, 



