TREATMENT OF WATER. 307 



from one, and seldom from more than two sides. When a 

 lake is viewed from above, its contour should be studied 

 as a whole; but when it is only seen from one or more 

 sides or points, the beauty of the coup d'ceil from those 

 positions can often be greatly increased by some trifling 

 alterations in arrangement. A piece of water which is long 

 and comparatively narrow, appears extremely different 

 in opposite points of view ; if seen lengthwise from either 

 extremity, its apparent breadth and extent is much 

 increased ; while, if the spectator be placed on one side 

 :md look across, it will seem narrow and insignificant. 

 Now, although the form of an artificial lake of moderate 

 size should never be much less in breadth than in length, 

 yet the contrary is sometimes unavoidably the case ; and 

 being so, we should by all means avail ourselves of those 

 well known laws in perspective, which will place them in 

 the best possible position, relative to the spectator. 



If the improver desire to render his banks still more 

 picturesque, resembling the choicest morgeaux of natural 

 banks, he should go a step further in arranging his materials 

 before he introduces the water, or clothes the margin with 

 vegetation. In analysing the finest poitions of natural 

 banks, it will be observed that their peculiar characteristics 

 often depend on other objects besides the mere ground of 

 the surrounding banks, and the trees and verdure with 

 which they are clothed. These are, rocks of various size, 

 forms, and colors, often projecting out of or holding up the 

 bank in various places ; stones sometimes imbedded in the 

 soil, sometimes lying loosely along the shore ; and lastly, 

 old stumps of trees with gnarled roots, whose decaying hues 

 are often extremely mellow and agreeable to the eye. Ali 

 these have much to do with the expression of a truly pic- 



