138 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GllOUNDS. 



formed into a series of terraces of parallel levels ; and if 

 these terraces are carried down the small valley and 

 repeated in some of the adjacent bays^ an impression 

 wiU be suggested that the lake is not an artificial creation, 

 but that the rivulet has worked its way through the 

 opposing bank, and left the water to form a new shore 

 at a lower level. If the materials do not suflS.ce to 

 form a broad platform, either level or raised, a combina- 

 tion of the two forms may be employed, on a narrower 

 base, by having a level next the water, and a raised 

 bank for planting on the outside. In speaking of the 

 heads of artificial lakes, we have described only the pro- 

 jecting knoll and the broad platform. Natural examples 

 of these may be seen in the lakes of hiUy and undulating 

 districts ; they are easily imitated, and their imitations, if 

 at all successful, have much less the appearance of arti- 

 fice than the ridges of earth commonly employed for 

 this purpose. To these might be added the rocky barrier 

 and rugged outlet of a mountain lake ; but as being at 

 once extremely difl^icult to execute and often in ques- 

 tionable taste, we do not venture to recommend them. 

 It is a good principle, however, to look earnestly at 

 nature when we are imitating its works. The outline 

 of the head towards the lake admits of some variety of 

 configui'ation. Where the broad platform is adopted, its 

 edge may be in part a straight line, with curves towards 

 the water at the ends ; or, when the knoU is selected, a 

 promontory may be drawn out into the water, with un- 

 equal bays at each side. The surplus water, instead of 

 issuing through a paved overflow or sluice, should rather 

 be conveyed in a winding stream, flowing from a bay at 

 one end of the head : in this case, the smaU vaUey 

 forming the outlet should, if possible, be so excavated as 



