Artificial Seas in Ornamental La7idscape. 137 



tion, aware of the effect, but there must remain, as being 

 unable to investigate the cause. It may be argued that many 

 a good gardener flourishes at the present day, who has not 

 only been successful in his labours, but afforded every satisfac- 

 tion to his employer, who scarce comprehends the term "vege- 

 table physiology." That such is the fact, cannot be denied ; 

 but may it not be asked, whence has this learning sprung ? 

 Is it not the result of previous philosophical experiments ; a 

 mere accumulation of approved facts, held out to the world by 

 such as made the original investigation ? But such a character 

 never can enhance the treasures of science, and never will avail 

 himself of any scientific research. 



Perhaps the above observations, by some of your young 

 readers, may be viewed as forming a part of the pra^cognia 

 of the Gardener's Magazine ; but, first principles can seldom 

 be too often recurred to, and being conscious that such verities 

 cannot be too forcibly impressed on the minds of such indivi- 

 duals, I submit the same to their perusal. 



If you, therefore, deem this attempt worthy of insertion, 

 by giving it a place you will much oblige. 



Sir, yours, &c. 

 September, 1828. Juvenis Olitor. 



Art. VI. On forming Artificial Seas in Ornamental Landscape, 

 and on a Neiv Sluice for regidating the Rise and Fall nfi the Tide 

 in such Seas. By Mr. W. Aitken, Nurseryman, Castle Douglas, 

 Author of Navarino, a Poem. 



Sir, 



A DESIRE to imitate nature, and to blend her magnificent 

 yet simple grandeur with the works of art, has now, to a cer- 

 tain degree, found a share either in the imagination or opera- 

 tions of every artist in gardening or rural ornament. 



I have often looked at the motion of the tide, and con- 

 sidered it the most gi'and and beautiful of nature's works, to- 

 gether with its sublime accompaniments, painted by her ever 

 fertile hand, of varied shores, rocky steeps, shattered bays, 

 and level sands, ornamented by her pencil with plants suited 

 to their respective situations. 



Artificial water-ponds and rivers have long ago been intro- 

 duced into gardens and lands, and when judiciously led down 

 are very ornamental : but I have gone one step further, I 

 have introduced, or, I should rather say, wish to introduce, 

 artificial seas. These can only be fresh-water ponds, but 

 so constructed with capes, bays, islands, rocks, sands, &c., 



