136 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



slopes by wMch tlie ground in its -vicinity may be varied. 

 The opposite extreme^, however^ sboiild be avoided ; for 

 where there is too little excavation the boundaries of the 

 lake often seem too feeble for the retention of its con- 

 tents^ and the effect is invariably tame. As a general 

 rule_, apparent shallowness should be avoided in artificial 

 water. 



The beanty of lakes depends gi^eatly on their ontline, 

 and this, thereforCj is an object of indispensable atten- 

 tion. When they are formed in a hollow_, the plane of 

 their waters naturally assumes an outline corresponding 

 with the original configuration of the ground, and this 

 outline can be varied and improved only by the forma- 

 tion of bays, promontories, and islands ; and by such 

 means considerable additional efifect may often be pro- 

 duced. When the site is on level ground, the outline 

 may be varied at pleasure ; any form may be adopted. 

 It may be either broad, bending, or winding, as the 

 general character of the park or the extent of the lake 

 will allow. In every case, however, the artificial lake 

 should present breadth rather than length. Variety of 

 outline, and the desirable intricacy of effect, may be 

 secured by the means above alluded to, viz., by bays, 

 and promontories, and islands. Care, however, must be 

 taken that the projecting masses do not obscure or 

 destroy the breadth of surface, as is too often the case 

 with small pieces of water. In some instances, what is 

 intended for a lake dwindles down into a winding canal, 

 or palmated pool with an island stuck into it, certainly 

 as unlike a work of nature as a work of man can be. 



Islands should be irregular both in their outline and 

 contour, and small rather than large. They are more 

 advantageously placed near the sides or ends than in the 



