CHAPTER XIX 



TREES AND SHRUBS FOR THE ROCK GARDEN 



IF we think of the changes in gardening terms which 

 have occurred during the last quarter of a century, 

 there is surely significance in the gradual transition 

 from the Rock Garden or Alpine Garden into the 

 more imposing Rock Garden of our present-day 

 language. It points to the bolder grouping now 

 happily adopted in most good gardens and more in 

 accordance with Nature's pattern which includes 

 evergreen and flowering shrubs as well as the close- 

 growing alpine plants, gem-like in their brilliant 

 colours, which in earlier days were alone considered 

 suitable for the purpose. The principle is now 

 generally recognised that the " unstudied picturesque- 

 ness of Nature may be brought into the rule and 

 line ordering of our gardens," and the better con- 

 struction and government of the Rock Garden gives 

 greater scope for the carrying out of this worthy 

 effort. 



In enumerating suitable shrubs for the Rock 

 Garden, more than ordinary care should be exercised 

 in their selection, in view of the greater difficulty 

 of rectifying mistakes in such positions. We must 

 not be led away by the beauty of a shrub, for 



instance, during its time of flowering alone, without 



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