ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE. 451 



pan privet ; and, if a somewhat formida- 

 ble fence is desired, the Osage orange 

 and honey locust will answer that pur- 

 pose. 



Hedges are also useful as shelter to 

 gardens, rendering them earlier, more 

 productive, and greatly exempt from 

 casualties of climate and locality. In 

 the growth of all kinds of small fruits, as 

 well as those of larger orchard growth, 

 •shelter is always of the greatest benefit. 

 Many of the diseases of our fruit trees 

 and imperfections in the products can be 

 effaced by sheltering hedges and planta- 

 tions — facts that are now being fully ap- 

 preciated by fruit-growers. 



In grounds of very limited dimensions, 

 where the boundary lines are at no great 

 distance from the house, an evergreen 

 hedge set inside the fence will afford 

 great relief to the eye and form a back- 

 ground, as it were, to the shrubbery and 

 flower borders. The stiff line of the 

 hedge can be modified in appearance by 

 planting small, diversified groups of 

 shrubs, or low-growing evergreens along 

 its front. A continuous border varying 

 in width and of curving outline, running 

 in a direction parallel with the hedge, 

 and thickly planted with flowering shrubs 

 of variety, interspersed with such flower- 

 ing herbaceous perennials as hollyhocks, 

 phloxes, chrysanthemums, delphinums, 

 etc., is one of the best modes of treating a 

 .small pleasure garden and lawn. 



WATER, Lakes. — When appropriately 

 introduced, the effect of water in pleasure 

 grounds is always pleasing; frequently it is 

 strikingly beautiful; and, of all the ma- 

 terials that enter into the composition of 

 natural scenery, there are none that pro- 

 duce a greater amount of varied interest 

 and beauty. It is, therefore, eagerly de- 

 sired as an adjunct to the more artificial 

 improvements of private residences, public 

 institutions, and city parks, and is always 

 a valuable acquisition where it can be 

 :ecired. 



To form an artificial lake, the first 

 requisite is an ample supply of water at 

 all seasons. There cannot well be a more 

 unsatisfactory object in artificial grounds 

 than a lake where the supply of water is 

 insufficient to keep it properly filled, and 

 where natural facilities for a constant sup- 

 ply do not exist its construction should 



not be attempted. The surface water, or 

 casual supply derived from rains and 

 snows, may be sufficient during winter 

 and spring, but entirely inadequate to 

 meet the evaporation during summer; 

 and lakes that are dependent upon this 

 source, and become partially empty and 

 stagnant during the warm season, are as 

 injurious to health as they are opposed to 

 all correct ideas of beauty. 



Water for ponds is sometimes procured 

 from the discharges of underground 

 drains; and where the drained area is 

 extensive enough to furnish all the water 

 necessary, which can be ascertained by 

 observations during summer, a pond may 

 be excavated at the lowest point, allow- 

 ing the surface of the water to- be on a 

 level with the discharge pipes of the 

 drains. The excavated soil can be used 

 in forming the banks of varied heights 

 and configurations. The outline of the 

 pond, like that of a belt of trees or shrub- 

 bery border skirting a lawn, should be 

 varied and irregular, with bold points and 

 deep indentations, and these should be 

 a level lawn, surrounded by curved out- 

 lines of shrubbery, and that of a smooth 

 sheet of water in a pond or small lake, 

 with jutting banks and retiring bays, is 

 very close, so far as relates to their artistic 

 treatment in ornamental planting. 



The most natural position for a sheet of 

 water is in a hollow or low ground, oc- 

 cupied by a constantly running stream. 

 It frequently occurs that small streams 

 are so situated that by skillfully throwing 

 a dam across the valley hollow through 

 which the water runs a large surface may 

 be flooded and the water permanently 

 ret lined. The water level on the sur- 

 rounding ground will probably show a 

 beautifully varied outline which may be 

 increased or rendered more definite by 

 deepening bay-like recesses and adding 

 to prominent or jutting points. This, to- 

 gether with the effects that may be pro- 

 duced by planting, will give variety to 

 otherwise monotonous outlines. 



In geometrically arranged flower gar- 

 dens simple basins of water may be in- 

 troduced with good effect, either with 

 fountains or without them. In these 

 situations the marginal finish or connec- 

 tion between the grass and water should 

 be of an architectural description. Any 

 attempt made toward a rugged, or what 



