330 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
rather outre aspect, stuck round and decorated here and 
there with large rocks, smaller stones, and old stumps of 
trees ; yet it must be remembered that this is only the chaotic 
state, from which the new creation is to emerge more per- 
fectly formed and completed ; and also that the appearance 
of these rocks and stumps, when covered with mosses, and 
partially overgrown with a profusion of luxuriant vegetation 
and climbing plants, will be as beautifully picturesque after 
a little time has elapsed, as it is now uncouth and uninviting. 
Islands generally contribute greatly to the beauty of a 
piece of water. They serve, still farther, to increase the va- 
riety of outline, and to break up the wide expanse of liquid, 
into secondary portions, without injuring the effect of the 
whole. The striking contrast too, between their verdure, 
the colour of their margins, composed of variously tinted 
soils and stones, and the still, smooth water around them, — 
softened and blended as this contrast is, by their shadows 
reflected back from the limpid element, gives additional rich- 
ness to the picture. 
The distribution of islands in a lake or pond, requires 
some judgment. They will always appear most natural 
when sufficiently near the shore, on either side, to maintain 
in appearance some connection with it. Although islands 
do sometimes occur near the middle of natural lakes, yet the 
effect is by no means good ; as it not only breaks and distracts 
the effect of the whole expanse by dividing it into two dis- 
tinct parts, but it always indicates a shallowness or want of 
depth, where the water should be deepest. 
There are two situations where it is universally admitted 
that islands may be happily introduced. These are, at the 
inlet and the exit of the body of water. In many cases where 
the stream which supplies the lake is not remarkable for size, 
