THE WATER DISPLAY. 



** Smooth to the shelving brink a copious flood 

 Rolls fair and placid ; where collected all, 

 In one impetuous torrent down the steep 

 It thimdering shoots." — Thomson. 



The position of the Great Cascade and its Basin has been 

 ah'eady pointed out ; these are undoubtedly the finest and most 

 attractive features of the Garden. A plunge of water issuing 

 from a low-browed archway, and expanding itself from shelf to 

 shelf, tumbling into the basin with the volume and the dash of a 

 Highland stream, furnishes a strong natural source of attraction, 

 especially in the warm days of summer. 



The water is drawn from an Artesian well, which has been 

 sunk behind the Great Conservatory, and which can supply 

 almost any amount of water. Its history is this : — 



Wlien the plan of the Garden was first settled, and ponds, 

 basins, canals, cascade, and fountains were resolved upon, the 

 question stiU remained, how the vast amount of water rec[uired 

 for these purposes was to be supplied. It was a matter which 

 had been purposely left open. It was known that, at the worst, 

 it could be had for a certain price from a Water Company ; and, 

 relying on this, the works were commenced. ^Vlien these became 

 so far advanced that it was necessary to determine the plan which 

 should be adopted, — whether a large yearly rent should be paid 

 permanently for water, or whether it would not be more econo- 

 mical to expend a larger sum at first in sinking an Artesian well, 

 which would ever after give the necessary supply at a compara- 

 tively trifling yearly expenditure, — it was found that there 

 could be no Cjuestion as to which was the most exjjedient course. 



