122 GARDEN CRAFT IN EUROPE 



here and there remnants of the old avenues and bosquets remain with 

 perhaps some moss-covered statue or fountain long past repair. 



Elaborate and costly cascades were set up in every garden. They were 

 by no means the ephemeral structures of rockwork and cement that con- 

 tented the Italians, but fine architectural compositions of coursed ashlar 

 stonework, verv beautifully finished. At Saint Cloud the great cascade is a 



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THE CASCADE AT ST. CLOUD. 



really fine conception ; it consists of three central waterways and inter- 

 vening stone channels and flights of stone steps ; it is still in working 

 order, and on the days of the grandes eaux presents a sight worth going far 



Vto see. Nearly every garden had its grotto intended to represent a wild 

 cave ; where it was impossible to excavate the natural rock, it was con- 

 structed beneath some artificial hillock, and ornamented with rustic work of 

 spongy stone, rocks and rare pebbles, stalactites, and various kinds of shells. 

 r By means of water, engines and machines were set in motion by which 

 V^gures worked, musical instruments were made to play and birds to sing. 



