280 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



when they are below the level of the house ; as, if above, 

 they are lost to the view, and if placed on a level with the 

 eye they are seen to much less advantage. We conceive that 

 they should never be introduced where they do not naturally 

 exist, except with the concurrence of the following circum- 

 stances. First, a sufficient quantity of ruiniing water to 

 maintain at all times an overflow, for nothing can be more 

 unpleasant than a stagnant pool, as nothing is more delight- 

 ful than pure, clear, limpid water ; and secondly, some na- 

 tural formation of ground, in which the proposed water can 

 be expanded, that will not only make it appear natural, but 

 diminish, a hundred fold, the expense of formation. 



The finest and most appropriate place to form a lake, is in 

 the bottom of a small valley, rather broad in proportion to its 

 length. The soil there, will probably be found rather clayey 

 and retentive of moisture, and the rill or brook, if not already 

 running through it, could doubtless be easily diverted thither. 

 There, by damming up the lower part of the valley with a 

 head of greater or less height, the water may be thrown 

 back so as to form the whole body of the lake. 



The first subject which will demand the attention, after 

 the spot has been selected for the lake or pond, and the height 

 of the head, and consequent depth of water determined upon, 

 is the proposed form or outline of the whole. And, as we 

 have already rejected all regular and geometric forms, in 

 scenes where either natural or picturesque beauty is supposed 

 to predominate, we must turn our attention to examples for 

 imitation in another direction. 



If then, the improver will recur to the most beautiful, 



versally called a jtoml. And many a beautifid, limpid, natuial expanse which 

 in England would be thought a charming lake, is here simply a pond. The 

 term may be equally correct, but is by no means as elegant. 



