THE TREATMENT OF WATER 57 



countering of some obstacle, either a rocky promontory, 

 a small hill or some such obstruction. On reaching this 

 obstacle we invariably find that the stream is thrown 

 against the opposite bank with considerable force. If a 

 rocky strata be encountered it will be many years before 

 an impression is made, if the bank is soft it will be mined 

 away in a short time. In any case, the final results are 

 the same, namely the formation of a bay on the side 

 opposite a promontory ; the more abrupt the obstruction, 

 the greater the force of the water, and consequently the 

 deeper recess of the bay. This is an elementary law 

 which the designer must carry into practice in order to 

 achieve some measures of reality in artificial lakes. 

 Islands are rarely necessary except in the case of large 

 lakes, as they lessen the extent of water, cramp the pro- 

 portions, and are in themselves of no particular beauty. 



The saying "Plant the hills and flood the hollows " 

 is as true to-day as when it was first uttered. Artificial 

 sheets of water, constructed at great expense in elevated 

 positions are almost invariably incongruous. True we 

 have the lonely tarns perched far up on the mountain 

 side, but these have no semblance to the garden lake, 

 either, in form or surroundings. Unless there is a 

 natural inlet and outfall for our proposed lake, the 

 probability is that it will ere long become foul and 

 stagnant, and in the absence of a feeding stream, may 

 run dry in the summer. 



On the character of the planting near the margins, 

 will depend almost entirely the good or bad effect of 

 the lake. The fringe of vegetation, the overhanging 

 branches, and soft lawns which fall gently to the edge, 

 are the true beauties of which water is but the foil. Too 

 few trees will result in a bald, unfinished appearance, 

 too many will cause the water to become foul, and at the 

 same time destroy its power of reflection. The proper 

 spots for plantations are the rising banks and promontories, 



