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JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTACE  CaRDENER. 
May  20,  is9f. 
PRECEPT  AND  PRACTICE. 
Picturesque  Gardening— Water, 
( Continued  from  page  387.) 
Considering  the  prominent  part  which  water — under  its 
various  forms  of  lake,  pool,  stream,  or  streamlet — plays  in 
picturesque  gardening,  no  excuse  is  needed  for  stretching  our 
outline  in  order  to  embrace  it.  Moreover,  if  only  for  the  purpose 
of  cultivating  our  beautiful  aquatic  or  semi-aquatic  plants  it  is 
worthy  of  attention.  Obviously  all  places  do  not  possess  this 
feature  developed  in  ratio  to  its  merits,  and  others  there  are  again 
in  which  its  charms  are  conspicuous  by  their  absence  ;  but  few 
there  are,  indeed,  in  which  a  spring  or  other  inconspicuous  water 
source  cannot  be  turned  to  good  account.  Here,  as  with  other 
phases  of  developing  Nature,  or  attempting  to  create  it  in  fac-simile, 
overstraining  for  effect  may  defeat  the  object.  Planning  and 
planting  are  the  primary  heads  under  which  this  sub-subject 
presents  itself  for  consideration. 
Its  employment  as  a  part  and  parcel  of  the  classical  outline  of 
formal  gardening  necessarily  insists  upon  harmonious  blending 
with  it,  hence  we  see  cut  stone  basins  and  fountains  on  the  smaller 
scale,  whilst  on  the  larger  architectural  lines  run  parallel  with  the 
principal  object,  as  exemplified  in  the  treatment  of  the  lake  at 
Trentham  Hall,  Staffs,  where  the  Italian  garden  is  linked  to  the 
lake  by  a  handsome  balustraded  parapet.  In  this  instance,  too,  is  to 
be  found  that  happy  union  with  Nature  and  Art  whereby  no  violent 
contrasts  are  presented,  and  the  critical  eye  finds  satisfaction  in 
ample  breadth  and  rests  in  repose  on  its  limits  in  the  distance  where 
woods  descend  in  a  natural  manner  to  the  water’s  edge.  With  this 
phase  of  our  subject  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  planning  of  bridges 
is  of  equal  importance  whether  they  be  near  to  or  far  from  the 
mansion,  if  visible  from  it ;  for  if  so,  they  are  perforce  included 
in  the  general  design. 
But  it  is  to  picturesque  gardening  this  paper  directly  pertains, 
and  it  is  here  this  free  element  gives,  or  can  give,  to  us  as  gardeners 
the  most  pleasing  results.  The  best  designs  under  artificial 
treatment  are  obviously  those  in  which  no  design  is  apparent,  and 
bad  examples  are  those  which  are  stiff  in  outline  and  of  distinct 
basin-like  formation  from  confinement  between  banks  formed  by 
excavated  soil  thrown  up  in  making  or  enlargement.  This,  however, 
is  not  of  frequent  occurrence,  as  the  lake  generally  originates  in 
holding  back  the  water  by  a  dam  or  weir.  Islands  or  islets,  if 
properly  disposed  and  not  too  lavishly  introduced,  make  an 
admirable  break  to  an  expanse  provided  that  they  do  not  exceed 
in  height  the  level  of  the  margin.  An  island  as  a  hump  in  the 
water  is  but  a  sorry  thing,  and  when  further  emphasised  by  a  thick 
planting  of  vigorous  growing  trees  it  is  decidedly  de  trop. 
Possibly  it  is  not  until  we  descend  to  the  minor  key  of  our 
harmony  in  the  way  of  pools  and  streams  or  streamlets  that  our 
controlling,  creative,  or  manifesting  hand  is  called  into  requisition, 
and  probably  most  will  agree  with  me  that  it  is  a  charming 
subject  and  worthy  of  our  best  efforts.  Our  stream,  which  may  be 
little  more  than  a  trickling  spring  anxious  to  escape  uunoticed  at 
its  own  sweet  will,  may  be  held  back  at  intervals  by  a  little 
obstructive  rockwork  naturally  inserted  in  its  bed,  and  by  other 
auxiliary  means  readily  suggesting  themselves  under  varying 
circumstances  be  made  into  a  thing  of  beauty,  and  with  suitable 
planting,  of  which  in  due  course,  become  a  source  of  infinite 
interest  in  this  most  interesting  kingdom  of  picturesque  gardening. 
Here  there  is  no  more  delightful  object  than  a  rustic  bridge 
with  creepers  trailing  to  the  water,  if  it  is  necessary  to  have  a 
bridge,  or,  what  is  equally  to  the  purpose,  made  to  appear  as 
necessary  ;  otherwise,  the  purposeless  descends  to  the  puerile,  and 
we  will  have  none  of  it.  Rustic  bridges  of  even  very  primitive 
construction,  which  is  often  the  best,  are  such  a  pleasing  feature  in 
this  department  that  an  excuse  may  occasionally  be  found  for 
having  one  to  span  a  ravine  or  other  natural  break  with  the  happiest 
effect.  Such  auxiliary  means  to  an  end  involve  practically  no 
expense.  Our  prehistoric  ancestor  probably  found  his  bridge  in  a 
fallen  tree  ;  but  as  we  have  lost  his  prehensile  qualifications  our 
bridge,  if  in  its  simplest  form,  will  necessarily  carry  the  passenger 
without  fear  and  trembling.  I  have  seen  a  charming  example  of 
this  work  erected  by  a  bandy  man,  and  a  little  visible  bareness  in 
the  handrail  was  corrected  by  some  spare  virgin  cork. 
Stepping  stones  may  in  some  instances  be  advantageously  em¬ 
ployed,  particularly  in  a  bog  garden,  which  is  only  second  in  point 
of  interest  to  water  gardening  proper,  and  there  are  few  places 
where  even  the  deficiency  of  a  natural  water  supply  prohibits  more 
pretentious  things  that  do  not  afford  of  something  being  done  in 
this  direction.  But  this,  the  simplest  form  of  our  subject,  will  not 
assert  itself  aggressively.  In  some  secluded  nook  or  retired  position 
where  the  liquid  element  is  provided  and  such  shelter  as  the  depths 
of  a  wood  or  other  means  afford  from  chilling  winds  or  severe  frost, 
certain  plants  are  provided  with  a  happy  home  that  a  more 
obtrusive  position  fails  to  give.  With  an  old  quarry  revealing  on 
its  face  the  natural  strata  of  rock,  a  little  further  excavation  at  its 
foot  provided  a  catchment  for  surface  water  and  an  opportunity 
for  planting  a  couple  of  M.  Marliac’s  beautiful  hybrid  Nymphseas 
which  were  too  precious  for  relegating  to  greater  freedom. 
Over  the  whole  subject  there  is  a  natural  affinity  between  rocks 
and  water  which  can  hardly  be  disregarded.  There  is  something 
particularly  pleasing  at  those  points  where  a  piece  of  natural  rock 
peeps  out  from  the  river’s  brim  or  the  margin  of  the  lake.  In 
those  localities  where  Nature  has  denied  this  privilege  I  have  seen 
a  few  introduced  with  the  best  effect,  and  this  without  any  elabora¬ 
tion  of  detail.  We  may  in  this  instance  plant  our  rock,  or  frag¬ 
ment  of  rock,  by  literally  burying  it  on  the  flat,  showing  little 
more  than  a  face  turned  to  the  water,  exactly  like  what  may 
be  often  observed  in  the  water-washed  course  of  some  stream. 
Obviously  the  employment  of  any  kind  of  stone  foreign  to  the 
locality  would  be  an  incongruity.  A  little  taste,  on  the  lines  of 
right  principle  founded  on  observation,  can  do  much  in  this  direc¬ 
tion,  and  what  is  simplest  is  often  safest,  leaving  no  room  for 
invidious  comparison. 
One  thing  I  should  like  to  mention  to  young  heads — viz ,  that 
it  is  often  their  own  hands  which  alone  can  carry  out  their  ideas. 
More  than  one  long  day  have  I  spent  at  this  work  to  go  home  at 
night  tired  out,  wet  through,  and  dirty  all  over,  but  generally 
satisfied.  In  the  matter  of  building  waterfalls,  the  chief  object  of 
which  is  the  retention  of  water  with  the  view  of  having  it  for  effect 
(or  for  use  perhaps)  when  most  needed,  I  have  suffered  too  much 
disappointment  from  tradesmen’s  work  to  trust  the  matter  entirely 
to  them  ;  so  much  so,  that  in  one  very  pretty  stream  we  had  water 
and  waterfalls  in  wet  weather,  but  during  a  spell  of  drought  dry 
walls  and  empty  basins.  Imperfect  work  of  this  kind  is  practically 
beyond  redemption,  and  wherever  or  whenever  this  work  is  worth 
doing  it  is  worth  doing  well. 
Our  wall,  we  will  call  it  such,  although  the  name  should  never 
be  applicable  when  completed,  may  often  require  sinking  below  the 
bed  of  the  stream,  and  carried  for  some  few  feet  into  the  bank  on 
either  side.  I  have  found  it  a  perfectly  satisfactory  method  to 
arrange  the  stones,  when  selected ,  in  a  double  wall  with  an  inter¬ 
vening  space  of,  say,  18  inches,  which,  filled  up  as  the  work  proceeds 
with  liquid  concrete,  binds  all  into  an  impervious  structure. 
Facilities  for  letting  off  the  water,  should  it  be  advisable  to  provide 
for  that  contingency,  can  be  had  by  leaving  a  trap  at  the  base,  the 
setting  or  construction  of  which  will  present  little  difficulty  to  an 
ingenious  mind. — An  Old  Boy. 
(To  b !  continued.) 
IN  SEARCH  OF  SUNSHINE. 
The  City  of  the  Flowery  Plain. 
{Continued  from  page  409.) 
The  bulb  farms  are  often  kitchen  gardens.  Most  of  the  growers 
take  a  crop  of  Potatoes  off  the  land  before  they  put  bulbs  upon  it. 
One  of  their  favourite  varieties  is  about  the  finest  flavoured 
Potato  I  ever  tasted,  and  if  it  maintained  its  splendid  quality  on 
our  atronger  British  soils  it  would  soon  be  run  after.  That,  how¬ 
ever,  is  extremely  doubtful,  and  it  would  very  likely  be  worthless 
on  clay.  Its  name  is  Wolkhammer.  It  comes  in  about  January 
and  last*  good  till  June.  The  Dutchmen  claim  to  have  an  early 
variety  of  equal  merit  in  the  Stegerhoek.  Grown  in  sand  enriched 
with  cow  manure  both  of  these  varieties  crop  well  and  cook 
beautifully.  They  form  a  very  important  dish  on  the  tables  of 
the  poorer  people  ;  indeed,  meals  are  made  of  them.  A  dish  of 
about  half  a  bushel  graces  the  middle  of  the  table,  and  near  it  is 
a  large  bowl  of  sauce.  Round  the  table  sit  the  family  (usually 
twelve  to  fourteen),  and  in  turns  each  member  transfixes  a  Potato, 
dips  it  in  the  sauce,  and  crams  it  whole  into  his  mouth.  One  galp 
disposes  of  it.  It  is  not  uncommon,  when  wandering  through  a 
village  at  mealtime,  to  see  a  fat  and  grinning  child  come  running 
to  the  window  with  a  large  Potato  spitted  on  a  fork.  He  hold*  it 
out  to  you,  and  while  you  gaze  enviously  he  whips  it  into  his 
mouth  as  quickly  as  a  toad  would  a  woodlouse,  and  swallows  it 
without  a  blink.  _ 
It  seems  odd  to  us,  but  is  after  all  not  surprising,  that  an 
experiment  with  Magnum  Bonum  turned  out  a  failure.  One  of 
the  growers  imported  some  and  grew  a  good  crop  ;  but  it  was  not 
known  on  the  market,  and  the  growers  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it.  Potatoes  are  not  planted  in  a  lined  trench  as  with  us,  but 
are  simply  dropped  into  a  hole  made  with  a  large  dibber.  The 
plan  answers  as  it  would  not  do  on  the  Wealden  clays.  Husbandry 
in  general  is,  in  fact,  altogether  lighter  and  simpler.  The  labourers 
