2259. In imitating a natural cascade in garden-scenery, the horizontal line must here also be perfect, to prevent waste of water in dry seasons; and from this to the base of the lower slope the surface must be paved by irregular blocks, observing to group the prominent fragments, and not distribute them regularly over the surface. In the infancy of landscape-gardening, the lower bank or slope of the dam was formed into ogee, and other curves, or a serpentine line, and smoothly paved; fixing, on the convexities of the curves, projecting boards across the current; and the current being thus interrupted, was thrown up in arched waves. Such was the sort of beauty then admired; for it is a long time in the progress of improvement before man can see any other beauty than that which he has himself produced.
