STRUCTURES IN LANDSCAPE 2^ 



inclosed in a formal design. In a naturalistic design this enframement 

 may be provided by an informal planting, or it may be better that the 

 statue stand free, relieved against a more distant background, but that 

 the spectator be unable to view it except in its favorable aspect. 



In all the landscape architect's regulated and formalized designs, Architectural 

 there is one element — water — over which he has no permanent ? / ^ ?" 

 control. He can determine the amount of its flow, he can determine Features 

 the shape of its mirror in his formal basins, but in its curve of fall from 

 one basin to another. In its noise of trickling and splashing, in its re- 

 flections and the sudden flurry of wind on its surface, it is as free in 

 the formal garden as it is in the mountain brook. Under the sun of 

 Italy or Spain or Persia or California, water and shade are the two 

 precious things in a garden ; and anywhere in the United States in 

 summer, the cooling sight and sound of water. If it had no further quali- 

 fication, would fit it for a most important place in the design.* 



According to the amount of its flow, falling water varies In Its effect 

 from a little contented chattering trickle to a noble rush of water like 

 that of the larger fall at the Villa d' Este. Where the situation allows 

 it, an ample flow of water coming forth first at the upper portion of 

 the scheme and then appearing In fountain and fall and cascade and 

 pool in its progress throughout the design, is an ideal to be sought; 

 but usually the supply of water Is limited or the natural gradient Is 

 slight, and we must content ourselves with a small display of flowing 

 water and use our ingenuity to make this as effective as possible. 



Water may appear first in a scheme, with a certain suggestion of Grottoes and 

 being a natural supply, if It comes out in a niche or perhaps in a grotto ^^^^ Fountains 

 in a retaining wall. In the case of the grotto, the dominating Idea 

 would probably be that of coolness. A grotto Is in any case expensive, 

 however, and it is difficult to make such a construction containing a 

 flow of water which shall not be dank and unpleasant rather than re- 

 freshingly cool. More readily, somewhat the same effect at a smaller 

 scale might be obtained by having the water appear In a deep over- 

 shadowed niche, perhaps planted with ferns and other vegetation thriv- 

 ing In damp and shade. In some of the Italian examples where the 



* For the use of water in its natural forms in landscape design, see Chapter VIII, 

 p. 136. 



