8 The Landscape Gardening Book 



therefore, if possible, before any building is doney both the house 

 and the garden. Take every natural feature and peculiarity of 

 the land, topographical or otherwise, into consideration. 



Is it rocky or is it stony? — there is a big difference. Is it wet 

 or dry? Is it hilly or flat? What is the nature of its soil? 

 What can be done with it most easily and simply? What is the 

 line of least resistance? 



The very hopelessness of changing things where great boulders 

 and shelves of solid rock thrust themselves up through the earth, 

 prevents the possessors of such land, usually, from even trying. 

 They are convinced from the beginning that nothing will grow 

 there, so what is the use of attempting to make it ? That is, 

 they are likely to be thus convinced, if they are unfamiliar with 

 plants. 



There are a great many things that will grow there, however — 

 not what is seen in common gardens to be sure, but is that not 

 in their favor? Distinctly rock-loving plants must have the 

 conditions which they like, and these cannot be supplied them 

 everywhere. You are fortunate if your location affords them. 



Such species are spoken of sometimes as " alpines, " but this 

 is incorrect. True alpines are too difficult for the amateur to 

 attempt to grow, as they are at home only above the line where 

 trees and shrubs cease, high up in the mountains. Make your 

 selection from the long list of rock-loving plants that do not need 

 the high altitude — the simple, easily grown, hardy and charming 

 things which almost any good nursery carries in stock. These, 

 with suitable ferns and mosses, which you may find already 

 growing among the rocks, will supply the needs of such a situ- 

 ation perfectly. 



The arrangement of such a garden should of course conform 

 to Nature's grouping; there should be no attempt at precision, 



