no WALL AND WATER GARDENS 



dense forest of Spruce. Scotch Fir is also beautiful 

 near water, especially in hilly ground, and it might 

 be better to plant Scotch than Spruce if the land was 

 very poor and sandy. But Spruce is essentially a 

 damp -loving Conifer, and nothing gives a more 

 solemn dignity to a water landscape than a large 

 extent of its sombre richness of deep colouring, espe- 

 cially when this is accentuated by the contrast of 

 the silver Birches. 



If the soil is strong or of a rich alluvial nature 

 Alders will grow to a large size, forming great rounded 

 masses. But some smaller matters will also be wanted 

 to give interest to the lake shore, so that here will 

 be clumps of the Royal Fern (Osmunda), and the 

 graceful Lady Fern, and where the path passes there 

 should be clumps of Water Elder ( Viburnum Opulus) 

 giving its pretty white bloom in early summer and 

 its heavy-hanging bunches of shining half-transparent 

 berries in the autumn months, when the leaves also 

 turn of a fine crimson colour. 



The sunny bank of the lake I should keep rather 

 open and grassy, with only occasional brakes of bushy 

 growth of Thorn and Holly, wild Rose and Honey- 

 suckle, with woodland planting of Oak and Hazel, 

 Thorn, Holly, and Birch beyond. 



If the lake or large pond is in flat low-lying country, 

 the large - growing Poplars and Willows named 

 in the next chapter will suit its banks or near 

 neighbourhood. 



