266 Sckell's Landscape-Gardening. 



the grooves of the pillars, so that scarcely any water can run 

 through, if they fit exactly, a lake or pond may be dammed up 

 to any required height, and again let out. For example, as 

 many pieces of wood of the same size are laid in as will reach to 

 the top of the lake or pond ; and when it happens that the last 

 board is either too high or too low, a particular board may be 

 made for this contingency, and laid on at the top. 



Experience has sufficiently proved the utility of these con- 

 structions, which are in general use in the neighbourhood of 

 Munich ; so that I can recommend them with all confidence, 

 as they are not so expensive as the common sluices, and, as I 

 have said, cause no unsightly appearance in pleasure-grounds. 

 When they are used, no building, roller, chain, or lever is seen 

 above the water, nor any clumsy sluice-board in chains in the 

 air. A sluice of this sort may be so contrived as not to be seen 

 at all, for it is sufficient if the pillars in which the boards are laid 

 project at most only from 4 in. to 6 in. over the water at its greatest 

 height, which can scarcely be observed. In letting off the water, 

 the boards which are taken out may be concealed in the bushes. 



In the Royal English Garden at Munich, a waterfall 89 ft. 

 broad was made at my suggestion, and the sort of sluices de- 

 scribed above made use of at five different outlets, because the 

 upper and lower brooks at that spot required to be laid dry 

 once or twice in the year. The rocks forming these waterfalls 

 were thrown about in natural masses before these outlets and 

 before the pillars, and the latter entirely concealed by them. 

 Not the least part of this artificial sluice is perceptible ; and the 

 tops of the posts, which rise about 9 in. above the surface of 

 the water, are so contrived that they resemble the rocks. The 

 five outlets from the left to the right have the following breadth : 

 viz. 9 ft.. 1 J ft., 1 4 ft., 2 1 ft., and 29 ft. ; the two posts at the broad 

 outlet are 4 ft. square, and the others 3 ft. 3 in. At the influx 

 into the lake the landscape-gardener should endeavour, when it 

 is possible, to make a striking waterfall. 



On making Ponds. 



4. In making ponds we proceed nearly in the same way as for 

 lakes. The banks should also gradually slope under the surface 

 of the water, and the bed should slope towards the outlet, so 

 that it may be laid dry when required, like that of lakes. But 

 as the banks of the ponds should be raised 3, 4, or 5 feet, for 

 the sake of the effect of overhanging shrubs, this should be per- 

 formed here and there with masses of rock, which would prevent 

 the danger of the earth falling in. 



The spaces between the rocks may be left, as in lakes, in 

 gentle slopes, which will create agreeable contrasts, and may 

 sometimes only be covered with turf, without any trees or 

 shrubs. 



