230 Landscape Gardening 



In turfing the banks above, the sod (indicated by thin 

 double Hnes in the section) should stretch down into the 

 water as at a, at least nine inches below the water level, for 

 there is a manifest beauty in the perfect union of the grass 

 and the water where the latter comes within the range of 

 the pleasure garden. Fig. 63 may possibly suggest a hint 

 or two in regard to the profile of groups of planting by the 

 sides of such pieces of water. 



Water birds on lakes of any magnitude in parks or on 

 ponds in woods beyond the limits of the pleasure ground 



Fig. 6t,. Lake Shore Planting. 



are generally pretty and vivacious, and give life and motion 

 to any scene. Islands covered with dense masses of shrubs 

 are particularly useful as breeding places for water birds, 

 as they protect them at night from foxes and other animals 

 of prey. Small, rude shelter houses for aquatic birds may 

 likewise become characteristic ornaments to the margins of 

 such islands. But water birds should on no account be 

 admitted upon ornamental water in pleasure grounds as they 

 destroy the beauty of the banks, foul the water, and are 

 otherwise a nuisance. A pair of swans might possibly form 

 an exception. 



