Fountains surprise by their novelty, and the surprise is proportioned to the height to which they throw the water; but these perpendicular columns of water have no pretence to beauty. The Emperor fountain at Chatsworth is the most surprising in the world, for it tosses its waters to a height of two hundred and sixty-seven feet, impelled by a fall from a reservoir three hundred and eighty-one feet above the ajutage, or mouth of the pipe from which it rushes into the air.

For an interesting description of this fountain and the grounds at Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, see Downing's "Horticulturist".

The following are a few of the most powerful fountains in Europe: -

Mr. Paxton has stated that, "Whatever be the direction of the jet, the discharge of water is always the same, provided that the altitude of the reservoir be the same. This is a necessary consequence of the equal pressure of fluids, in all directions. Water spouting from small ajutage has sufficient velocity to carry it to the same height as the water in the reservoir; but it never attains entirely this height, being prevented by various concurring causes. 1st. Friction in the tubes. 2d. Friction against the circumference of the aperture. 3d. The resistance of the air, its weight obstructing the rising column." - (Sard. Chron.

Mr. Loudon justly observes, that it is not easy to lay down data on this head; if the bore of the ajutage be too small, the rising stream will want suffi cient weight and power to divide the air, and so being dashed against it, will fall down in vapour or mist. If too large it will not rise at all. The length of pipe between the reservoir and the jet will also impede its rising in a slight degree, by the friction of the water on the pipe. This is estimated at one foot for every hundred yards from the reservoir. The proportion which this author gives to the ajutages, relatively to the conducting-pipes, is one-fourth; and thus for a jet of four lines, a conduct-ing-pipe of an inch and a half diameter; for a jet of six or seven lines, a con-ducting-pipe of two inches, and so on. From these data, the height of the fountain and the diameter of the conducting-pipe being given, the height to which a jet can be forced can be estimated with tolerable accuracy, and the contrary. But where the pipes are already laid, and the power of the head, owing to intervening obstructions, is not very accurately known, the method by trial and correction by means of a leaden nozzle, the orifice of which may be readily increased or diminished, will lead to the exact power under all the circumstances.

Ajutages

"Some are contrived so as to throw up the water in the form of sheaves, fans, showers, to support balls, etc. Others to throw it out horizontally, or in curved lines, according to the taste of the designer; but the most usual form is a simple opening to throw the spout or jet upright. The grandest jet of any is a perpendicular column issuing from a rocky base, on which the water falling produces a double effect both of sound and visual display. A jet rising from a naked tube in the middle of a basin or canal, and the waters falling on its smooth surface, is unnatural without being artificially grand." - Gard. Enc.

Drooping fountains, or such as bubbling from their source trickle over the edge of rocks, shells, or vases, combining the cascade with the fountain, are capable of much greater beauty.