THE SITE 9 



point, the rock garden will not be so liable 

 to be burnt up during the summer. 



The next point to be investigated is the 

 contour of the land, and on this will depend to 

 a great extent the type of rock garden to be 

 constructed. 



Sloping ground, undulating if possible, is 

 undoubtedly the best, for thus more pleasing 

 effects can be obtained, with less labour and 

 expense, than can be expected on level ground, 

 and the fact that the drainage can be made 

 more effective is by no means the least im- 

 portant consideration. Hollows should at all 

 times be avoided when there are any difK- 

 culties in the way of draining them effectively. 

 Nothing is more fatal to alpines, and indeed 

 to all plant life, than stagnant moisture, which 

 so quickly makes the ground sour. 



The nature of the soil should be also taken 

 into account. It is a great mistake to imagine 

 that rock plants do not require good soil ; the 

 very best fibrous loam, the deeper the better, 

 with a light sandy subsoil, is what they delight 

 and revel in. Therefore, in the selection of a 

 site, avoid as far as possible anything in the 



