THE GARDEN AND ITS ACCESSORIES 



The opening of these cisterns was gen- 

 erally covered with a hollow circular piece 

 of stone that served the purpose of pro- 

 tection and at the same time allowed the 

 water within to be of easy access. Old 

 column capitals were hollowed out and 

 placed over the cisterns. These capitals 

 have been used for well heads in other 

 parts of Italy, and as such they served an 

 excellent purpose. They were also often 

 arranged to decorate gardens and court- 

 yards, wherein they served as flower-pots 

 or as pedestals for vases, statuary, and 

 sun-dials. 



For the most part these capitals are rel- 

 ics from ruined temples and monuments 

 that were wantonly destroyed during the 

 long period of the Renaissance. 



The greatest care must be exercised in 



placing these ancient pieces in American 



/gardens. It may not be necessary that 



they should actually serve as well heads 



