House and Garden Correspondence 
mixture of American Indian and East Indian fabrics 
will not be found at all inharmonious as there is often 
to he noticed great similarity in color and design. Indian 
jars and baskets can be used decoratively about the room. 
Your long willow chair cushion should be upholstered 
with dull green upholsterer’s velveteen. The other 
furniture in the room should show the same simple, 
strong lines and also the same stain and finish as the 
book-shelves and cupboard. A round oak table, one 
or more comfortable Morris chairs with laced cushions 
covered with wrinkled sheepskin, or the velveteen, 
would look well. All other chairs should be selected 
with a view to the comfort of their occupants. Some 
brasses and coppers could be used upon the walls. A 
door curtain of the green velveteen is suggested if such 
is needed. Margaret Grf.enleaf 
THE PROPER TREATMENT OF WATER 
I would like some advice from House and Garden 
regarding the best treatment for a small stream of water 
which crosses the property near its lowest boundary. 
My place is 540 feet wide along the highway and 1350 
feet deep. It slopes slightly upward to the house, which 
is set back 250 feet from the road, then drops slightly 
for 350 feet further, within which space or plateau are 
formed the flower and vegetable gardens. Then an 
outcropping of rock forms a natural cliff some eight feet 
high, below which is the meadow extending to the rear 
line fence, beyond which the woods begin—though not 
on my property. I forgot to say that my stable, which is 
a small affair, lies off to one side of the plateau, next the 
side fence, with the end of the kitchen garden between 
it and the house. My difficulty lies with the water. I 
cannot include it in the garden, owing to the difference 
in level, though I should like to. Shall I wall it in and 
deepen it, form a pond, throw a bridge or two across, 
and generally artificialize it, or can 1 make it interesting 
in some other way, and by a more naturalistic treat¬ 
ment ? F. S. S. 
The treatment you propose would have two results: 
First, it would involve you in a much greater expense 
than I am sure you anticipate, and, secondly, it would 
produce a visible result that you would come to find pro¬ 
foundly displeasing and incongruous. It is the fate of 
water, being tractable, to be led hither and thither, and 
made grandiose, ugly and generally ridiculous by bridges 
which lead nowhere, waterfalls of the last degree of 
sophistication, and ponds, cement edged, forming hideous 
blots upon the face of Nature. If the reality of your 
country place is as charming as the picture evoked by 
your description, you are specially favored, and if ever 
there was an indication to let well alone, you have it. 
If your stream is clear and clean, you might form an 
artificial pond with natural edges and pump to your 
barn, but if you are otherwise supplied I should not 
advise it. Treat the stream naturally, adding aquatic 
plants and ferns and mosses along the banks, if the 
exposure is right, but let the long meadow-grass come 
quite down to the water in many places, and have a 
widened slack water lily pond. Put a small, unobtru¬ 
sive bridge to one side with a path to the wood lot, if 
accessible. If the cow (I assume the cow) can get down 
to the stream let her graze in the meadow if there is 
a shade tree or two available as a retreat from the 
sun and flies. A vine draped tea-house to one side, on 
the brink of the cliff, is indicated if the outlook over 
the neighboring properties is not unworthy of inclusion, 
or, if so, it might be possible to plant out anything of 
the sort that proves objectionable. What more can you 
possibly need or desire to complete the picture ? 
C. E. 
