THE ARTIFICIAL ROCK GARDEN 59 



How difficult it is, only those who have 

 tried can fully realise ; but if it is successful, 

 a masterpiece of engineering and artistic skill 

 will have been achieved. There are few who, 

 on account of expense, could attempt a garden 

 of this description unless they had ground that 

 lends itself naturally to it, when it would 

 perhaps only be necessary to make the valley 

 or valleys deeper and slightly raise and vary 

 the heights and contours of the hills. In this 

 case one need clear only the ground that is 

 intended to be rockwork, namely, the heights, 

 unless indeed the valleys are overgrown with 

 trees or scrub, when it should be thoroughly 

 cleaned. 



As the surface to be planted is so large, and 

 as it is always necessary to reach all parts 

 easily and without fear of walking on the 

 plants, a number of paths will be required. 

 Not paths in the generally accepted term — 

 nice gravelled walks with stone edges — but 

 almost imperceptible ways winding in and 

 out amongst the boulders, starting from the 

 main valley up a gentle slope for perhaps a 

 few yards, then round some large rock and 



