THE ARTIFICIAL ROCK GARDEN 47 



also that the latter shall be of the greatest 

 possible depth. 



It has been already pointed out that the 

 course of the valley should wind about consider- 

 ably. The slopes forming the banks must also 

 vary as much as possible, in order to avoid pre- 

 senting a too artificial appearance. In some 

 places let the bank recede in a gradual slope, 

 whilst in others a more abrupt formation will 

 lend a pleasing contrast. Here and there some 

 flat patches may skirt the path and be almost 

 on the same level with it ; further on they 

 may be raised considerably above the path level. 

 These are a few suggestions whereby to break 

 a stiff and formal outline and give the variety 

 which should be aimed at. As I said before, 

 it is far more satisfactory, and will probably in 

 the end save considerable trouble, if the rough 

 formation of the banks is made when cutting 

 out the valley and before the rockwork proper 

 is commenced. Nothing is more annoying 

 than to find, when making a hollow in a certain 

 spot, and when it is nearly completed, that the 

 subsoil appears, for this entails removing the 

 good soil for some distance round the spot and 



