164 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



formed, are essentially useful in creating 

 variety of composition, as the lake is viewed 

 from different situations. The size and num- 

 ber of them must depend upon the size of the 

 water, and the circumstances of the place. It 

 is hardly possible that an island in the middle 

 of a lake can have a good effect ; neither 

 can a regular form convey the idea of a 

 natural island. The island should not be 

 parallel with the shore. The effect of an island 

 will sometimes depend upon its being raised 

 above the level of the neighbouring shore, by 

 which means greater variety and intricacy 

 will be produced. It is also frequently de- 

 sirable, that the island itself should be of un- 

 equal height. A low point projecting from 

 under the hanging wood of the higher part 

 of the island, especially if the point can be en- 

 riched with fragments of stone, or varied in 

 its colouring by the warm tints of a sandy or 

 gravelly soil, will have the happiest effect. 



In the description of a scene in nature by 

 two persons equally alive to its beauties, the 

 general features of the composition would 

 appear pretty much the same in each ; yet, 

 in the detail, considerable variety might be 

 found ; the attention of one having, perhaps, 



