THE WALL GARDEN 121 



more soil were used it would be liable to be 

 washed out by heavy rain. Pieces of slate 

 may be inserted between the stones, and provide 

 a little room to plant in, and also to take off 

 undue pressure on the plants. As has been 

 said earlier in this chapter, it is advisable, when 

 possible, to insert the plants as the building 

 proceeds, for larger plants can thereby be used 

 and their roots properly spread out, and also 

 the chances of leaving vacant spaces behind 

 them, which is so often the cause of plants 

 unaccountably dying, will be reduced to a 

 minimum. 



The advantages of planting at this stage can 

 only be fully realised by those who have spent 

 many and weary hours, both trying to the 

 temper and not unfrequently most painful 

 and damaging to the skin of the knuckles, 

 endeavouring to insert the delicate and 

 obstinate roots of alpines into chinks where 

 they did not wish to go. 



So, having laid a course of stones, put a 

 sprinkling of soil over them ; then the plants, 

 spreading the roots out well ; then a little more 

 soil, making sure that all the crevices are well 



