66 ROCK GARDENS 



quite one-third of the rocks should be buried 

 in the ground ; some people say even as much 

 as half, but this is rather more than is necessary. 



As I have already stated, almost any class of 

 rock will do ; but avoid anything in the shape 

 of thin slabs or round boulder stones — the 

 former because they have an ugly and mono- 

 tonous face and are difficult to make steady 

 in the ground, the latter on account of the 

 difficulties already mentioned in working them 

 together satisfactorily ; though a few indeed 

 may be half buried on the summit of a mound 

 to give the idea of the point of a rock just 

 appearing over the surface of the ground. 



Above all things, avoid anything in the 

 nature of artificial rock, clinkers, burrs, bricks, 

 or the like. The bottom of a drain is the only 

 place for such as these. Equally to be shunned 

 are old tree stumps or wood in any form, for 

 it so quickly rots away and promotes the 

 growth of fungus, which is pretty certain to 

 kill any plant growing near it. Nothing but 

 good rough stones should be used. The size 

 will in a great measure depend on the facilities 

 for dealing with them, and also on the nature 



