NOTES ON GARDEN DESIGN 169 



and chains. In the superb pleasure-grounds at the same 

 place, there is a recently established water garden, of the 

 wild or natural type, on the bank of the large lake. And 

 in Norman Tower garden, besides several small fountains 

 beautifully designed and entirely appropriate to their sur- 

 roundings, there is a miniature rocky stream, which, after 

 flowing through a pretty lily-pond with moss-grown rocks 

 and fringing ferns on its banks, empties itself into a small 

 but very interesting bog garden. So that in this most ex- 

 quisite little pleasance, among all its charms of sight and 

 scent, the musical sound of falling and running water is not 

 wanting. 



In places which happen to be near the sea or a large 

 natural piece of water, any attempts at water gardening should 

 be done, if at all, on a very small scale. Were a large 

 artificial lake introduced, a kind of rivalry would, consciously 

 or unconsciously, be felt, to the certain discomfiture of the 

 unnatural. For this reason, the garden at Osborne, being 

 within sight of the sea, has only a formal fountain on the 

 terrace, and a water garden on the large scale required by 

 the natural type has, most wisely, not been attempted. 



Even in quite small gardens, something may be done to- 

 wards making a home for a few choice aquatic plants. The 

 difficulties are doubtless great, and two of them are specially 

 to be remembered before deciding to try the experiment. 

 One is, in a small garden it is not easy to plan a tank that 

 friends cannot fall or step into while looking at some other 

 feature of the place. And the other is the stagnant water 

 question. If these matters can be successfully arranged, a 

 very great amount of pleasure will be derived from cultivat- 

 ing some of the smaller sedges and water-lilies, even in a 

 tiny pond. 



Bog Gardens. — These are closely allied to, and may almost 

 be considered as belonging to the natural class of water 

 garden ; for nowhere do they seem so thoroughly at home as 

 on the margin of a lake, should it happen to be flat and 



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