305 
Ornamental Water , Fountains , Etc. 
beside it. Suppose that, according to the respective levels of the jet and the 
cistern, a fountain ought to rise ten feet, we have only to remove the cistern 
to a distance of one thousand yards to nullify the whole effect of the 
descending force of the column of water, and, consequently, destroy the jet 
altogether. To determine the adjutage is easy enough by experiment with a 
leaden nozzle, which can be pressed or opened to the dimensions found to 
suit the circumstances, and this course is absolutely necessary where the 
engineer has no ready means of ascertaining the power of the head. As a 
rule, the adjutage, or opening of the pipe, should be one fourth the size of 
the pipe itself, but every fountain should be supplied with a series of adjutages 
to produce different forms of jets, as the force of the head may vary, or as 
the caprice of the possessor may determine. 
Having said so much by way of introduction, we will now proceed to deal 
with the construction of small ponds and lakes. It is not our intention here 
to go into the question of large sheets of water, because such work can only 
be properly carried out by an engineer, after a thorough survey of the site. 
Our remarks therefore will be confined to water scenes on a small scale. 
In forming small sheets of water in places of limited extent, simplicity 
should always be aimed at. Circular or octagonal basins, with or without 
fountains, are perhaps the best suited for the formal or geometrical style^ 
while for the mixed or gardenesque, where a nearer agreement with nature is 
sought, roundish or oblong pools or ponds are the most suitable If, 
however, larger sheets of water, such as lakes, are being treated, then the 
shape may be more varied and irregular, so that the whole will not be seen at 
the same time, and by a tasteful treatment of its terminations considerable 
indefiniteness may be obtained. 
We will now turn to small sheets of water, treated architecturally, offering 
a few remarks with reference to the most suitable positions, and afterwards, 
with the help of the diagram (Fig. i), explaining shortly their construction. 
As regards the position, architectural basins should, as a rule, be (i) in near 
proximity to the house or some subordinate building; or (ii) be included in 
or form part of some specially-designed figure ; or (iii) have the ground 
immediately around treated in a formal or geometrical style. Of course 
there are exceptions, owing probably to some peculiar formation of the 
ground, where water, “treated architecturally," is admissible in positions 
other than those mentioned; but, as a general rule, those referred to above 
will be found the proper and correct ones. 
