TREATMENT OF WATER. 301 



a i great cost and extreme labor, would be considered 

 loth absurd and uncalled for. Indeed, when nature has 

 so abundantly spread before us such an endless variety of 

 superb lakes, rivers, and streams of every size and descrip- 

 tion, the efforts of man to rival her great works by mere 

 imitation, would, in most cases, only become ludicrous by 

 contrast. 



When, however, a number of perpetual springs clustex 

 together, or a rill, rivulet, or brook, runs through an estate 

 in such a manner as easily to be improved or developed 

 into an elegant expanse of water in any part of the 

 grounds, we should not hesitate to take advantage of so 

 fortunate a circumstance. Besides the additional beauty 

 conferred upon the whole place by such an improvement, 

 the proprietor may also derive an inducement from its 

 utility ; for the possession of a small lake, well stocked 

 with carp, trout, pickerel, or any other of the excellent 

 pond fish, which thrive and propagate extremely well in 

 clear fresh water, is a real advantage which no one will 

 undervalue. 



There is no department of Landscape Gardening which 

 appears to have been less understood in this country than 

 the management of water. Although there have not been 

 many attempts made in this way, yet the occasional efforts 

 that have been put forth in various parts of the country, in 

 the shape of square, circular, and oblong pools of water, 

 ind.cate a state of knowledge extremely meagre, in the art 

 of Landscape Gardening. The highest scale to which 

 these pieces of water rise in our estimation is that of 

 respectable horse-ponds ; beautiful objects they certainly 

 are not. They are generally round or square, with per- 

 fectly smooth, flat banks on every side, and resemble a 

 huge basin set down in the middle of a green lawn. 



