in.] RAISED BANK POCKETS ASPECT 71 



This, then, is the foundation I would suggest for the 

 border, and for the rest, a great deal must, if necessary, 

 depend upon the owner's taste and skill in the building 

 up and laying out. 



Its special advantages are not far to seek ; one of 

 these is aspect. Often I have known plants to die if 

 placed on one side of a rock, while they thrive on 

 the opposite. A north border suits them, a south 

 enervates. 



The serpentine bed I have described affords its owner 

 endless opportunities for making experiments and gaining 

 experience, if he will only keep his eyes open and use 

 his wits. 



The separate divisions again afford all the advantages 

 of the bedding system without its defects. There may 

 be found room and scope here for the culture of all 

 sorts of plants, the ground having been prepared 

 beforehand with a view to the requirements of each, 

 viz. a limestone compost for some things ; a peaty 

 mould for others ; a dry corner for certain plants ; a 

 moist swamp for certain others ; higher ground suitably 

 prepared for alpines, out of reach of the stronger 

 growths, which would choke and smother them, and 

 yet not " high and dry," but congenial soil into which 

 the roots may penetrate ; and there should be contrived 

 some shady nooks in retired depressions for Ferns or 

 Pansies. 



On certain of the higher levels the Christmas Rose 

 might be planted in groups where its roots would 



