278 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



labour, would be considered both absurd and uncalled for. 

 Indeed, when nature has so abundantly spread before us such 

 an endless variety of supero lakes, rivers, and streams of every 

 size and description, the efforts of man to rival her great works 

 by mere imitation, would in many cases only become ludi- 

 crous by contrast. 



When, however, a number of perpetual springs cluster to- 

 gether, 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 cir- 

 cumstance. 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 propa- 

 gate extremely well in clear frseh 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, in- 

 dicate 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 perfectly tame, flat banks 

 on every side, and resemble in tameness and insipidity, a huge 

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

 are even, in most cases, denied the benefit of shade, except, 



