336 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
of natural brooks and rivulets. Whatever may be their size 
they are always greatly admired, and in no way, is the 
peculiar stillness of the air, peculiar to the country, more 
pleasingly broken, than by the melody of falling water. 
Even the gurgling and mellow sound of a small rill, leaping 
over a few fantastic stones, has a kind of lulling fascination 
for the ear, and when this sound can be brought so near as 
to be distinctly heard at the residence itself, it is peculiarly 
delightful.* Now any one who examines a small cascade at 
all attentively, in a natural brook, will see that it is often 
formed in the simplest manner by the interposition of a few 
large projecting stones, which partially dam up the current 
and prevent the ready flow of the water. Such little cas- 
cades are easily imitated, by following exactly the same 
course, and damming up the little brook artificially ; stu- 
diously avoiding, however, any formal and artificial disposi- 
tion of the stones or rocks employed. 
Larger water-falls and cascades cannot usually be made 
without some regular head or breastwork, to oppose more 
firmly the force of the current. Such heads may be formed 
of stout plank and well prepared clay ;t or, which is greatly 
preferable, of good masonry laid in water cement. After a 
head is thus formed it must be concealed entirely from the 
eye by covering it both upon the top and sides with natural 
rocks and stones of various sizes, so ingeniously disposed, 
* The fine stream which forms the south boundary of Blithewood, on the 
Hudson, the seat of R. Donaldson, Esq., affords two of the finest natural cataracts 
that we have seen in the grounds of any private residence. Fig. 38 is a view of 
the larger cascade which falls about 60 feet over a bold, rocky bed. 
t It is found that strong loam or any tenacious earth well prepared by puddling 
or beating in water is equally impervious to water as clay ; and may therefore be 
used for lining the sides or dams of bodies of made water when such materials are 
required. 
