58 THE BOOK OF GARDEN DESIGN 



for which irregular groups of such trees as willows, 

 alders, rhododendrons, dogwood and birch are particularly 

 suited. Scrappy planting is to be avoided, boldly 

 defined masses of certain varieties being far more effec- 

 tive. In the marshy ground near the bays, the noble 

 gunneras, rheum palmatum, and certain varieties of spiraea 

 and the larger grasses look extremely well. A list of 

 suitable plants for such situations will be fouud in 

 another chapter. 



If possible, portions at any rate of the lake should 

 be visible from the best parts of the flower garden, or 

 even from the house itself, and to attain this end vistas 

 should be carefully preserved by the due regulation of 

 timber and plantations. 



Stone embankments quite spoil the appearance of 

 sheets of water, giving them a semblance to those 

 miniature lakes which are frequently encountered in 

 public gardens at the seaside. If there is a likelihood 

 of the banks being seriously damaged by the wash of 

 water, a suitable protection in exposed places may be 

 made by stones set in cement, the whole being after- 

 wards hidden with grass and trailing plants. Where 

 the general surroundings are wild or rocky, a lake with 

 gently undulating banks and sweeping outline will look 

 out of place ; the promontories will require rougher 

 and more broken treatment, whilst firs, such as may be 

 seen on Brathay Crag, Windermere, would be more in 

 keeping than willows and alders, which are associated 

 with scenery of a milder type. 



If the site commands a view of a fine natural sheet 

 of water, it is seldom advisable to create an artificial 

 lake. The latter is almost bound to look puny and 

 ridiculous, whilst comparison is invited, which seldom 

 tells favourably on the work of the designer. Similarly, 

 the artificial stream only too surely betrays its character 

 when a free flowing river is also included in the line of 



