THE ARTIFICIAL ROCK GARDEN 41 



object. Study the contour of the ground, and if, 

 owing to the surroundings, it appears as though 

 a path should come from one special place and 

 lead to another, mark these two points and lay 

 out the garden between them. The garden 

 should neither begin nor end too abruptly ; 

 let it commence with a barely perceptible 

 hollow, the height of the banks on either side 

 of the path gradually increasing ; while in a 

 similar manner they should decrease in height 

 at the further end, merging by degrees into 

 the rising ground beyond. Nothing could 

 look more unnatural than to come suddenly 

 from comparatively level and probably rockless 

 ground upon some bold rockwork which is 

 there for apparently no reason, and which ceases 

 equally abruptly and inconsequently. The 

 same rule applies to all artificial rock gardens ; 

 avoid anything sudden in the way of rockwork, 

 but lead up to it gradually, with odd rocks 

 scattered here and there, increasing in number 

 as you approach your garden proper. If this 

 be done it will only be copying nature, which 

 should always be your guide. 



If the space available for working upon be 



