CHAPTER XIV 



LAKES AND LARGE PONDS 



EXCEPT in the case of Water- Lilies I have often noticed 

 that the smaller the pool or pond in which orna- 

 mental water-plants are grown the better one is able 

 to enjoy them. In the large pond, and still more in 

 the lake whose length is measured by miles, the scale 

 of the water surface is so large, and the visible extent 

 of land and water so wide, that one does not feel 

 the want of the small water-plants nearly so much 

 as one desires a bold treatment of tree and bush, and 

 such fine things as will make handsome groups upon 

 the shore and masses in the middle and further dis- 

 tance. If I had a large space of water, with land 

 more or less bare and featureless sloping to it, I 

 should begin by planting a good extent of the coolest 

 and dampest slope with Spruce Fir, bringing some 

 of the trees right down to the water's edge. 



The Spruce would be planted as far apart as they 

 were to stand when full grown, but more thinly to 

 the water's edge, so that here, as they grew, they 

 could be thinned by degrees till they stood in good 

 groups. Birches would also be planted near the 

 water, and would show as graceful silver-stemmed 



trees standing reflected in the lake and backed by a 



109 



