THE TREATMENT OF WATER 53 



Water may occur naturally in the garden scene, as in 

 the form of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, or artifi- 

 cially by the introduction of fountains, cascades, and 

 architectural objects, connected with a supply obtained 

 from waterworks or pumped on the estate. In the 

 former case, the designer usually resorts to means more 

 or less artificial, whereby he may alter existing features 

 to suit his plan or fall in with his ideas. Whilst it 

 would be idle to assert that the pond or stream in its 

 original form would prove best adapted for securing 

 good effects in laid-out grounds, there can be no gain- 

 saying the fact, that alteration and adaptation too often 

 mar their natural beauty and give but little in return. 

 The native brook winding its way among ragged banks, 

 fringed with yellow flag and purple loosestrife, is 

 charming when its surroundings consist of wood and 

 brake and lush meadowland ; it becomes a weedy ditch 

 when shaven lawns and trim pathways have taken their 

 place. The designer's first thought when he approaches 

 a site on which there is a stream or pond, must be to 

 choose between two alternatives : either the water shall 

 be left much as it is, and the garden planned in harmony 

 with its unadorned simplicity, or the grounds be de- 

 signed first, and the stream entirely altered in conse- 

 quence. Needless to say, the latter step is by far the 

 more expensive. 



The "landscape gardener" who has pronounced 

 leanings towards architecture, will treat our streamlet 

 with scant courtesy. Probably he will alter its course 

 altogether, bringing it up to his terrace garden and 

 confining it between strictly parallel walls of stone or 

 brick. The pond will fare no better, its swampy sides, 

 the former home of bulrushes and sedge, will be 

 drained, promontories will be cut away, the outline 

 made regular, and the whole surrounded with a balus- 

 trade, on which stone vases will rise at intervals. 



