Chap. YIl.] 



THE BOIS DE VINX'ENNES. 



105 



other hand, naturally and gracefully disposed. The grass meets 

 the margin of the water as gently as it often docs in natural 

 streams. Little rocks stand in the bed, sometimes clad with 

 plants, while Yuccas, trailing shrubs and marsh plants crowd 

 along the banks. One of these streamlets issues from an Ivy-clad 

 rock, of which an illustration is given. Where the streamlets 

 cross the walks they are conveniently bridged by stepping-stones 

 and rock?!, round which the water-plants cluster. The sketch of 

 the rocky streamlet in this wood shows a successful attempt 

 to ornament the mouth of a rivulet as it joins a piece of water. 



Near where a streamlet enters the larger lake, there is a group 

 of little islets dotting the water, as shown in the engraving of the 



Rocky Streamlet with Yuccas and trailing Shrubs. 



view across the lake. Islets of this kind artistically formed are a 

 pleasing feature in good water, and they have a use of which some 

 of their designers never thought, in the culture and preservation 

 of a variety of hardy flowers, quite at home in such places. It 

 is often possible in such situations to establish little colonies 

 of bog, or marsh, or rock plants, which could not so easily be 

 grown elsewhere. The safety from encroachment by coarser 

 plants, the complete exposure with at the same time abundant 

 moisture, and the power of isolating a species or a family where 

 that soems desirable, make it clear that such spots might be made 



