European and Japanese Gardens 



beauty of form, though requiring less fineness of execution 

 than monumental buildings deserve. The triviality of many 

 of the minor decorative figures and buildings of actual gardens 

 in Italy in execution and detail, is no doubt reprehensible, but 

 less offensive than one would imagine, because of their charm- 

 ing surroundings and the obviousness of their role, not as 

 works valuable intrinsically, but as mere adjuncts and features 

 in the general scenic eilect of the whole. 



Thirdly, tlic treaiincnt of iL'aicr \\\ the fountains, cascades 

 and basins of these gardens exemplifies sound principles cor- 

 rectly applied. A very small volume of water is made to pro- 

 duce a maximum of decorative effect, and the greatest possible 

 variety of eftects, by repeated interruptions and changes of its 

 movement from the reservoir above the upper terrace down to 

 the last fountain basin in the flower-garden. Thrown up in 

 small jets, it is poured from basin to basin of the fountains, in 

 very thin but brilliant sheets or streams, to reappear, after 



A SMALL VOLUME OF WATER . . . BROKEN AGAIN AMD AGAIN ' 



Villa Lante 



35 



