WATER 105 



were placed some distance back from the water and 

 subordinated in the landscape by planting willows 

 or other suitable trees on each side, they would not 

 be so objectionable. 



The next feature most destructive of lake scen- 

 ery is the construction of boat-houses extending 

 out into the water; and hardly less injurious to 

 the appearance of water margins are the concrete 

 and masonry walls which give a light-colored scar 

 to the otherwise peaceful and quiet margins. The 

 summer cottages also frequently destroy the at- 

 traction which has drawn their owners to lake 

 borders. The most obvious remedy for the un- 

 sightliness caused by the structures mentioned is 

 to place such as are necessary back from the shore. 

 A boat-house set back in a bank or inlet need not 

 be ugly. An ice-house is difficult to manage in a 

 landscape on account of its large size, but much 

 can be done to mitigate its usual ugliness by se- 

 lecting a proper location and subordinating it by 

 planting near it trees that attain great breadth 

 and height. The walls along the shore are usually 

 unnecessary and should be omitted. A summer 

 cottage can be so placed that with proper staining 

 or painting and suitable planting, it will be quite 



