CHAPTER X. 

 HOW TO MAKE A SMALL ROCK-GARDEN. 



UNTIL a few years ago rock-gardening was considered too 

 complex and expensive a pastime for the average amateur 

 gardener, and was left to those who possessed large gardens 

 and had deep pockets. But this is now changed ; rock- 

 gardening is " the fashion." 



The reason is simple enough ; people have discovered 

 the intense fascination of a rock-garden. They have found 

 out how many bewitchingly beautiful little plants may be 

 grown even on quite a small area of ground, even in their 

 own back-yard, and that the little treasures they admired 

 abroad can be grown to love and cherish at home. There 

 is world interest in a rock-garden, there is excitement, there 

 is tragedy, there is success ; in fact, there is everything one 

 can desire, on a small scale. And the excitement is no small 

 part of the joy of rock-gardening. There is an element of 

 chance in it. It is a triumph for the amateur to be able to 

 say that he got Saxifraga Apple Blossom in bloom on 

 February i6th, when perhaps his friend's plants were not 

 out till March gth. 



There is another thing which makes this branch of garden- 

 ing so fascinating ; namely, the humouring of the little 

 plants themselves. Rock-plants are like young children, 

 they respond to love and care. And love and care must 

 be amply bestowed on them to induce some of the shyer 

 plants to thrive and flower. Every true gardener loves his 

 plants ; it pains him to see them in distress, and it is a 



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