INTRODUCTION. 
to say shall be said so sharply, pungently, and vividly, that none 
shall fail to gain a prompt and clear idea of what must needs be 
done ; nor be suffered to wander lost in a wilderness of wise words 
and vague prescriptions and prefatory prettinesses. 
In the first place, the site of the rock-garden must be open. 
It must not be overhung by trees or bushes of any sort. 
It must not be near trees or big bushes of any sort. 
If there are unavoidable neighbours, a deep trench must be 
made between them and the rock-garden, all their roots must 
there be cut off, and a deep hedge of upright flagstones be sunk 
underground to prevent their intruding anew. Even so, the 
work will have to be done afresh in some five years’ time. 
The rock-garden should not.be near a wall, a border, a formal 
path, a house ; or within sight of any such regular and artificial 
construction. This, of course, is only a counsel of perfection. 
The way of building a rock-garden is as follows, these being 
its prime necessities, no matter what its shape or scheme. 
Having chosen an open aspect and conceived your plan, you 
must invariably excavate the soil to a foot or fifteen inches below 
eround level. You must then fill up this excavation with rough 
coarse curs, clinkers, and coke-blocks for drainage. This is the 
alpha and omega of success; it was never understood in the past, 
when we compiled our heaps of any impervious old rubbish, and 
then were surprised because our choice Alpines, in prepared 
“ pockets ” pecked in the mass, proved miserable and sullen. 
From that.day dates the bad reputation of many a beautiful plant, 
which has now become happy and free and easy, since we have 
discovered that the vital secret of success in rock-gardening is 
to build the whole fabric soundly, on proper principles, with good 
soil and perfect drainage, from the very base. 
Over the drainage layer (the level or slope of this will accord 
of course with your plan) lay a stratum of reversed turf to keep 
the upper soil from filtering away into the basement. 
Now comes your soil: this must be a mixture both light and 
rich. Unmixed crude loam from field or garden should never 
be used in its raw state, but should be lightened, at all events, with 
XXVil 
