HOW TO MAKE A SMALL ROCK-GARDEN 85 



aspects for the plants, and if skilfully planned, every possible 

 aspect. 



If the rock-garden is to be merely a corner, then one 

 mound will do, which should not be too steep. If a bank 

 is to be made into a rock-garden, then the poor soil of the 

 bank should be covered with at least a foot of good soil ; 

 but this is not always possible until some of the stones are 

 placed. And if a long narrow border is the site, put on at 

 least a foot of good new soil, but do not make the ridge or 

 ridges very steep. 



A large quantity of soil must be retained for use during 

 the building, and the builder is recommended to cut his 

 finger nails close before beginning the work. Finger nails 

 can get badly broken during rock-garden building, a fact 

 learned by sad experience. 



Arrangement of the Stones : First of all let me take the 

 reader to a sandstone or limestone quarry. A careful look 

 at the rocks will show that they lie in more or less 

 horizontal layers ; they are rarely much tilted up, and are 

 hardly ever seen standing point upwards. If it be a disused 

 limestone quarry it will be noticed that rock-plants do not 

 thrive under overhanging rocks. They must be on the top 

 with free access to rain, sun, and air. 



Now let us return to our garden. Let us have a good 

 look at the mounds of earth and satisfy ourselves that they 

 are in good positions. 



Then take a large stone from the stone heap and place 

 it at the bottom and end of a mound, in such a way that it 

 imitates the lie of a piece of rock in the quarry. It may be 

 absolutely horizontal, or dip slightly one way or the other. 

 The stone should be let well into the mound so that it holds 

 up a quantity of earth which would otherwise fall away. 

 Large stones may be let in one-half their depth or more, 

 and their base should be sunk into the ground at least 

 4 ins. 



Repeat the process with another stone, which should be 

 of a similar size and placed in a similar way, end-on to the 

 first stone at the base of the mound. This one may lie 



