32 THE STORY OF MY ROCK GARDEN 



In one or two other places the " bays " opening out 

 near the path I devoted to semi-bog plants, simply 

 making a depression, clay-lining the bottom, and filling 

 in with spongy soil, where such subjects as Primula 

 farinosa, P. frondosa, P. capitata, P. Cockburniana, 

 Violas, cornuta and biflora, Aquilegia alpina and a 

 variety of smaller plants, which might easily be over- 

 looked if far from the point of view, could find a suitable 

 habitation. 



Needless to say, I do not encourage every visitor 

 to use the stepping stones about in the rock garden, 

 ladies' dresses especially having a way of brushing 

 against the smaller plants bounding these steps, in a 

 manner liable to damage them. I have endeavoured 

 to render such close inspection of the inner part of the 

 garden unnecessary by growing there the rather 

 larger plants and accumulating the small ones nearer 

 the path and so close under the eye. 



If the reader has followed the foregoing, it will have 

 been evident that it is to a large extent necessary to 

 work round one's Rock Garden bit by bit, in building, 

 not carrying up any one part to a great height till the 

 adjoining portions have been raised, and so on thus 

 forming a solid foundation to rise from. 



The exact conformation of one's garden must of 

 course be largely a matter of personal choice, but if 

 nothing very heroic is attempted, and as far as may be, 



