TREATMENT OF WATER. 
301 
a i great cost and extreme labor, would be considered 
l oth 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 descrip- 
tion, 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 possession 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, 
ind.cate 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 per- 
fectly smooth, flat banks on every side, and resemble a 
huge basin set down in the middle of a green lawn. 
