46 GARDEN DESIGN 



Miniature cascades and islands, stepping stones 

 and bridges all have their part in the picture. The 

 stepping stones are the prettiest part of the design, 

 and the greatest care is taken in placing them so 

 as to give a beautiful line over the water. Their 

 disposition may be compared to the English land- 

 scape gardener's method of laying out paths ; while 

 the islands are grouped as he would set out shrub- 

 bery and flower beds on his lawns, with the same 

 regard to perspective and general effect. Little 

 bridges connect islands with the mainland, or 

 span arms of the lake. In their construction may 

 be seen the artistic superiority of the Japanese 

 gardener when imitating natural scenery. A 

 wooden bridge cannot possibly be a product of 

 nature, and the Japanese does not attempt to 

 make it so by any laboured " rustic " work, but 

 puts human skill into it. Bridges of stone slabs 

 are also used, and then the natural untooled slabs 

 are simply laid on rocks in the water. (See Dia- 

 gram 13.) The wooden bridges are charming 

 structures, not always there for the obvious 

 purpose of crossing the water, but for the aesthetic 

 purpose of contemplating the scenery, or to better 

 observe the lotus flowers and the gold fish below. 

 They are accordingly not very practical from a 

 western point of view. They may arch to a per- 

 fect semi-circle, thus affording an extensive view 

 of the garden from a height, while the reflection, 

 an important consideration, completes a circle. 



