252 



POXDS AND LAKES. 



I 



-•t 



Aviuding, ii-reguLir shores, bounded by a higli bank on 

 the east side and a great willow drooping over the north 

 end. Rocks Avere disposed in the immediate banks, so as 

 to suggest a natural formation rather than an artificial 

 pond. The bottom, scarcely three feet deep, •was cemented 

 tight as a cup, and the Avater Ho -wed gently in at one end 



• and out at the 



other, and so 

 t h r o u o- h a 

 basin into the 

 . sewer. Eigh- 

 teen inches of 

 soil Avas maile 

 rich Avith ma- 

 nure and de- 

 posited over 

 the bottom. 

 ' This soil was 

 renewed more 

 or less every 

 year. ^Masses 

 of il<:>werincr 

 s h r u h s a n d 

 small trees, 

 such as the hydrangea, Sjyircea ojmlifoJia, and purple beech 

 and Ijirch formed a background of foliage on the steep 

 hillside sloping up to Fifth Avenue. The lotuses (X. 

 sjyeciosinn ) in this pond wei-e disposed in a solid mass 

 at the noi'th end along tlie steepest banks. There the 

 observer can look doAvn and see them mirrored on the surface 



THE CENTRE OF THE FOUNTAIN, 

 UNION SQUARE. 



