24 ROCK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



far from that, for we rely upon a sight here and there 

 of bold rockwork to give character to the scene. Yet 

 generally the greater part of the stone should be below 

 the soil ; there it is of greater benefit to the plants, and 

 the portion that outcrops will look its best. A perusal 

 of the simple notes dealing with the chief classes of 

 stone will give clues to the methods of placing them, 

 but generally it may be said that no rock should be 

 stuck on end, as though it were some peak growing 

 out of the ground, and that regard should be paid to the 

 natural stratification. For example, rocks in which the 

 strata are horizontal should not be placed in a vertical 

 position. If the function of the rocks is regarded chiefly 

 as that of supporting the soil, the builder is not likely 

 to commit many heresies. 



The soil should be made very firm all around the 

 rocks, so that no hollows and no half-filled fissures remain. 

 It is necessary to provide " pockets " that is, portions 

 of soil enclosed by rocks or stone otherwise much soil 

 will be washed away from the plants in spring during 

 heavy rains. Unfortunately they are apt to give the 

 rock garden an artificial appearance if regularly 

 margined by small pieces of stone ; it is far better to 

 make use of fewer pieces of larger stone, which can be 

 so arranged as to prevent the possibility of the plants 

 suffering from drought in dry weather. One can, for 

 instance, form rock ledges behind the top of which the 

 plants are inserted. All rocks and plants should, when 

 their form admits of it, be so placed that they slope 



