TREATMENT OF WATER. 
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nobility, the formation of large pieces of water at great cost, 
and extreme labour, would be considered both absurd and 
uncalled for. Indeed, when nature has so abundantly 
spread before us such an endless variety of superb lakes, 
rivers, and streams of every size and description, the efforts 
of man to rival her great works by mere imitation , would, 
in most cases, only become ludicrous by contrast. 
When, however, a number of perpetual springs cluster 
together, or a rill, rivulet, or brook, runs through an estate 
in such a manner as easily to be improved or developed 
into an elegant expanse of water in any part of the grounds, 
we should not hesitate to take advantage of so fortunate a 
circumstance. Besides the additional beauty conferred upon 
the whole place by such an improvement, the proprietor may 
also derive an inducement from its utility ; for the posses- 
sion of a small lake, well stocked with carp, trout, pickerel, 
or any other of the excellent pond fish, which thrive and 
propagate extremely well in clear fresh water, is a real 
advantage which no one will undervalue. 
There is no department of Landscape Gardening which 
appears to have been less understood in this country, than 
the management of water. Although there have not been 
many attempts made in this way, yet the occasional efforts 
that have been put forth in various parts of the country, in 
the shape of square, circular, and oblong pools of water, 
indicate a state of knowledge extremely meagre, in the art 
of Landscape Gardening. The highest scale to which these 
pieces of water rise in our estimation is that of respectable 
horse-ponds ; — beautiful objects they certainly are not. 
They are generally round or square, with perfectly smooth, 
flat banks on every side, and resemble in tameness and in- 
sipidity, a huge basin set down in the middle of a green 
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