CHAPTER XI 



THE ROCK-GARDEN— GENERAL ARRANGEMENT 



After the marsh pools and still on the homeward 

 journey, and between this region and the shrubbery 

 portion of the garden proper, will be the rock-garden 

 (see plan, p. 89), approached on the marsh side by 

 some of the plants of rather large size. Nothing is 

 more strikingly beautiful than a large patch of Equi- 

 setum Telmateia, a native plant ; mysterious, graceful, 

 and almost tropical-looking. Near it there are two 

 large-leaved plants, Saxifraga peltata^ in moist rich 

 soil carrying its great leaves three feet high, and 

 Rodgersia podophylla, with palmate leaves as large as 

 those of the Horse Chestnut, but the divisions hand- 

 somely jagged at the ends, and the whole leaf of 

 a fine reddish-bronze colouring. It is sometimes 

 crippled by late frosts, and well deserves the protec- 

 tion of a few Fir boughs. 



If there is space enough here would also be a place 

 for the giant Gunneras (besides their other water-side 

 sites), and for another spreading patch of Heracleum 

 mantegazsianum, for Arundo Donax, and for the Bam- 

 boos. These giant Reeds and Grasses should in such 

 a good garden as this have a large space, of which 

 they would be the chief occupants. They should be 



