THE DECORATIVE TREATMENT OF WATER. 



251 and 252 is shown a tiny canal which forms part of a terrace garden at Ashton- 

 on-Trent in Derbyshire. This canal, although so small, is not without a distinctive 

 charm of its own which this very fact gives it, and is sufficient to provide interest to 

 this part of the garden scheme. 



Where the source of supply for a formal canal is small, the most should be made of 

 it in order to avoid any possible appearance of stagnation. In the example at Kearsney 

 Court already referred to (111. No. 236), this is accomplished by arranging a small 

 stepped cascade in connection with the bridge over the inlet, while illustration No. 249 

 contains suggestions for the disposal of a 

 still smaller supply. In any case, the exist- 

 ence of the inlet and outlet and their 

 positions should be marked by architectural 

 treatment, even if it is only an effectively 

 arranged balustrade or suitably placed vases 

 on pedestals to act as pylons. 



The construction of the formal canal may be either similar to that of the water-lily 

 pond or it may have grass banks sloping down to the water. In the latter case, the 

 margin should be treated as shown in the accompanying sketch (111. No. 255), with 

 rough pitching at the water line to withstand the strongly-marked erosive action of ripples 

 and wavelets and the wash from canoes and boats. The sod may be carried over the 

 pitching down to the water. The breadth of the band of pitching will depend on whether 

 any variation in the water level can be efficiently prevented and also on the width of the 

 canal and amount of shelter from winds, which are both factors determining the size the 



FIG. 255. 



FIG. 256. PLAN OF THE CANAL AT THE PALACE OF PEACE. 



(THE COURT OF THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL.) 



wavelets will attain. -It will thus be seen that the breadth of the pitching will need to 

 be much greater at the ends than at the sides, as ripples crossing the canal will not 

 reach so great a strength as those which travel the whole length or nearly so. If the 

 bottom is of puddled clay, it will be necessary to do the work in sections in order to 

 prevent the. clay from drying and cracking, as shown in illustration No. 257. 



Whatever system of construction is adopted, the water level should be kept as high 

 as possible, say between eighteen inches and two feet six inches below the surrounding 



192 



