Treatment of \Yatcr 107 



whole; but when it is only seen from one or more sides or 

 points, the beauty of the view from those positions can 

 often be greatly increased by some trifling alterations in 

 arrangement. A piece of water which is long and com- 

 paratively narrow, appears extremely different in opposite 

 points of view; if seen lengthwise from either extremity, 

 its apparent breadth and extent is much increased; while, 

 if the spectator be placed on one side and look across, it 

 will seem narrow and insignificant. Now, although the 

 form of an artificial lake of moderate size should never be 

 much less in breadth than in length, yet the contrary is 

 sometimes unavoidably the case; and being so, we should 

 by all means avail ourselves of those well known laws in 

 perspective, which will place them in the best possible 

 position, relative to the spectator. 



If the improver desire to render his banks still more 

 picturesque, resembling the choicest features of natural 

 banks, he should go a step further in arranging his materials 

 before he introduces the water, or clothes the margin with 

 vegetation. In analysing the finest portions of natural 

 banks, it will be observed that their peculiar characteristics 

 often depend on other objects besides the mere ground of 

 the surrounding banks, and the trees and verdure with 

 which they are clothed. These are, rocks of various size, 

 forms, and colors, often projecting out of or holding up the 

 bank in various places; stones sometimes imbedded in the 

 soil, sometimes lying loosely along the shore; and lastly, 

 old stumps of trees with gnarled roots, whose decaying hues 

 are often extremely mellow and agreeable to the eye. All 

 these have much to do with the expression of a truly pic- 

 turesque bank, and cannot be excluded or taken away from 

 it without detracting largely from its character. There is 

 no reason, therefore, in an imitation of nature, why we 

 should not make use of all her materials to produce a similar 

 effect; and although in the raw and rude state of the banks 

 at first, they may have a singular and rather crude aspect, 

 stuck round and decorated here and there with large rocks, 

 smaller stones, and old stumps of trees; yet it must be 



