26 THE STORY OF MY ROCK GARDEN 



shaped one, with an arm leading off from it, at one 

 point, which I proposed should be partially hidden 

 from view by winding round the base of a steep 

 cliff, to give the appearance of a small stream entering 

 the pool between precipitous banks. 



The soil I obtained from this excavation heavy 

 though it was when well mixed with an equal bulk 

 of sharp road grit helped to form the foundation of the 

 higher parts of the rockery. Before proceeding to 

 shape this, however, I roughly sloped the surface of the 

 whole site slightly towards the pool, which was 

 approximately central in the garden and spread a 

 layer some six inches thick of " rough stuff " or 

 " hard core " over it. It was upon this that I piled up 

 the soil from the hollow I was making. 



I allowed the earth to accumulate to a considerable 

 degree, roughly in the undulating form I desired the 

 rockery finally to have, thereby getting a better idea 

 of the design than I possibly could from a drawing. 



When I had excavated what I considered sufficient 

 to form the pool and its adjoining arm I proceeded to 

 the building proper. What was to be the floor of the 

 pool I rammed firmly, and after making it slightly 

 hollow, paved it with old bricks, and from the edge 

 of this paving I started building up the somewhat 

 steep sides with concrete lumps before mentioned, 

 and which I will hereafter call my " stone." 



