352 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



height of the head and consequent depth of water deter 

 mined upon, is the proposed /orm or outline of the whole 

 And, as we have already rejected all regular and geometric 

 forms, in scenes where either natural or picturesque beauty 

 is supposed to predominate, we must turn our attention to 

 examples for imitation in another direction. 



If, then, the improver will recur to the most beautiful 

 small natural lake within his reach, he will have a subject 

 to study and an example to copy well worthy of imitation. 

 If he examine minutely and carefully such a body of water, 

 with all its accompaniments, he will find that it is not only 

 delightfully wooded and overshadowed by a variety of 

 vegetation of all heights, from the low sedge that grows 

 on its margin, to the tall tree that bends its branches over 

 its limpid wave ; but he will also perceive a striking pecu- 

 liarity in its irregular outline. This, he will observe, is 

 neither round, square, oblong, nor any modification of these 

 regular figures, but full of bays and projections, sinuosities, 

 and recesses of various forms and sizes, sometimes bold, 

 and reaching a considerable way out into the body of the 

 lake, at others, smaller and more varied in shape and con- 

 nexion. In the heights of the banks, too, he will probably 

 observe considerable variety. At some places, the shore 

 will steal gently and gradually away from the level of the 

 water, while at others it will rise suddenly and abruptly, in 

 banks more or less steep, irregular, and rugged. Rocks and 

 stones covered with mosses, will here and there jut out 

 from the banks, or lie along the margin of the water, and 

 the whole scene will be full of interest from the variety 

 intricacy, and beauty of the various parts. If he will 

 accurately note in his mind all these varied f')f»'^s- l^.eir 

 separate outlines, the way in which they blend iiito one 



