62 ROCK AND WATER GARDENS 



which it is intended later to convert into an orchard. 

 The sides of the path were bordered with rough 

 margins of waste ground, which through neglect had 

 become over-run with weeds, and had also served as a 

 convenient place in which to shoot rubbish, stack turf 

 and erect a few frames. Altogether it was thoroughly 

 unsightly. The owner saw possibilities of improve- 

 ment, and after some thought decided on turning it 

 into a bog and water garden. Unfortunately there is 

 not a stream or pond on the property, and as expense 

 was a consideration, nothing very elaborate was con- 

 templated. 



In the first place, the ground was thoroughly cleaned, 

 and a new pathway made along the side furthest from 

 the shrubbery. This provided a strip of ground some 

 four yards wide and fifteen long between the path-edge 

 and the line of shrubs. As it was not considered advis- 

 able that the bog garden should extend close up to the 

 laurels, it is nowhere more than nine feet wide, and in 

 some places even less. 



Having marked out the site, the next step was to 

 remove the soil to a depth of two feet. This proved a 

 somewhat heavy task, but the advisability of having the 

 bog and water plants sunk well below the general 

 ground level, made a certain amount of spade and 

 barrow work necessary. With the soil removed, high 

 banks interspersed with rockwork were made at either 

 end. These served to screen and shelter the bog 

 garden, and also provided a home for many delightful 

 plants, those on the lower slopes being such as 

 appreciate a considerable degree of moisture. 



Six large petroleum casks were then procured, each 

 being sawn in half. The tubs were well-charred 

 inside, in order to render them as durable as possible, 

 the oil which had soaked into the wood acting as an 

 additional preservative against decay. Down the length 



