46 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



Here we will content ourselves by saying that two oppor- 

 tunities are afforded the gardener by sloping grounds 

 which are elsewhere unusual. The first is iii the diver- 

 sity of surface presented. The second is in the advan- 

 tageous situation for the display of many plants which, 

 in any other position, would not appear to advantage. 

 In respect to the first, it should be explained that even 

 comparatively gentle slopes may be emphadzed by proper 

 treatment until they appear to be steep declivities. The 

 first expedient to this end lies in the treatment of the 

 ground itself. It is simply to contrive small irregulari- 

 ties of the surface by placing here and there a little 

 swell which rises abruptly and then falls away very 

 gently down the hill. This part of the declivity will 

 of course be steeper than the general slope ; and a few 

 of these contrasts will give the appearance desired. Such 

 variety is often to be sought on a nearly flat and feature- 

 less place. A slope also furnishes a specially suitable 

 location for the disposition of rocks, both because they 

 are needed to hold the hillside against washing by rains, 

 and because they appear to much better advantage than 

 on level ground. If the rocks used on a hillside are not 

 in their natural stratifications, and plainly so, they 

 should always be mingled with grass and shrubs and 

 trailing vines. Many trailing vines give great satisfac- 

 tion if allowed to run at liberty down the side of a bank.* 

 Water in any form furnishes an ever pleasing addi- 

 tion to a garden, whether as a bubbling fountain, a 

 sparkling brook, or a cool and quiet expanse of mirror- 

 like surface. In brooks and ]X)nds it furnishes one of 

 the most delightful resources of the landscape gardener. 

 Besides the wonderful variety of pleasing effects of which 

 it is in itself capable, it i)rovidcs the only opportunity 



♦Trailing plants may often be used to great advantage. In many 

 such situations tlie hardy perennials are especially desirable. See 

 Chap. XXI, Part IV. 



