154 



Gardens for Small Country Houses. 



shape of the other end marches with the plan of the lower terrace. The chief purpose 

 of this pool, as of most of its kind, was to find a home for water-lilies. Surrounding 

 the basin, and less than a foot below the normal water-level, is a shelf about fifteen 

 inches wide, on which may be set pans or baskets containing lily plants. There are 

 varieties which, on account of their intrinsic value, or for the purpose of ensuring 

 better growth, it is desirable to place in this way. It may be added that some of the 

 more robust water-lilies will grow in from six to ten feet of water, but such a shelf 

 as is now described need never be more than two feet below the ordinary level. 



FIG. 208. — SUNK POOL GARDEN AT MARSH COURT. 



and IS more convenient if only about six inches below. A practical point worth 

 remembermg in the construction of such pools is the risk they bring to those gardens 

 that are made the more gracious by the presence of Uttle children. If they are built 

 with broad, shallow steps which drop by gentle degrees towards the middle of the 

 pool, an over-venturesome child is not likely to come to very serious harm. The 

 gradually receding levels of the stone or brick, moreover, add to the appearance of 

 the pool, when the water is clear enough to reveal its floor. In Figs. 196 to 202 are 

 shown seven pool shapes drawn by Mr. J. Maxwell Scott from sketch designs by 



