4 ROCK GARDENS 



must obviously greatly depend on what choice 

 of positions there is. 



A rock garden can be made almost anywhere 

 — almost, be it emphasised ; for under certain 

 conditions, which I shall point out later on, 

 the chances of success would be but small. 



But no matter what the position is, whether 

 the spot selected be the most ideal, or the 

 most unpromising, it will require considerable 

 thought and no little skill to lay out the 

 garden to the best advantage. 



The object of this book is to help the reader 

 to approach as near as circumstances will 

 allow to the ideal rock garden : that earthly 

 Paradise, which, alas ! the skill of mortal 

 man has not yet achieved, nor ever will, 

 I fear. 



Though there is a great difference of opinion 

 as to what this lovely spot should be like, at 

 the same time there are many points on which 

 all agree. Some indeed are absolutely essential 

 to the well-being of those alpine gems, which 

 one hopes to see grow and thrive as they do 

 in their natural home, though too often one 

 is doomed to disappointment. Yet be not 



