Vlll 



PREFACE 



to emphasise more clearly the salient points 

 of my subject. A rock garden is one of the 

 most fascinating of possessions. It is an in- 

 exhaustible mine of pleasure ; it entails no 

 heavy labour, and is within the most modest 

 means. If others derive half the enjoyment 

 from their rock gardens that I have from 

 mine, they will be abundantly repaid for any 

 trouble they may take. Should I be of use 

 to any unknown reader, I trust he will not 

 hesitate to write to me, as I shall be delighted 

 to reply to any questions he may care to put. 



My warmest thanks are due to Mr Frederick 

 W. Moore, Curator of the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Glasnevin, who not only assisted me 

 throughout by his kind advice, but also for 

 ushering in my book. A preface from an 

 acknowledged authority of his renown dig- 

 nifies my own modest effort and gives it an 

 importance to which it could not otherwise 

 aspire. I am also deeply indebted to Mr 

 W. Irving, of the Royal Botanical Gardens at 

 Kew, for so kindly checking the lists of plants 

 at the end of the book. Passed by him, they 

 can be safely commended both to the novice 



