MORAINE GARDENING 69 



is then secured below, and evaporation is checked from 

 above. So far we have, say, six inches of rough stone or 

 brick in the bottom, followed by another six inches of 

 stones used in decreasing size. There remains another 

 twelve inches to fill. The simplest way, and one that is 

 probably just as satisfactory as a more elaborate method, 

 is to complete the filling of the moraine with pieces of stone, 

 each layer decreasing in size until, as directed above, 

 the upper two inches or so consist of quite small stones. 

 Really very little soil is necessary, and it may be sprinkled 

 on the surface ; the rains will soon wash it in. To add 

 much soil to the moraine is to defeat the object for which 

 it was formed. 



Moraine Compost. Having completed the lower 

 twelve inches as explained, quite the commonest practice 

 is first to prepare the compost of stones and soil and 

 use the mixture to fill the moraine to the surface. The 

 proportion of soil used may be about one-tenth of the 

 bulk, the remainder consisting of broken stone. Probably 

 limestone chips are the best of all stone material, though 

 they are by no means indispensable ; if sandstone or 

 whinstone chips are more readily obtained, they may 

 be used instead. Failing any of these one may employ 

 broken brick with quite good results. Sifted gravel also 

 forms a good substitute, while stone chips, such as are 

 employed for road making, are quite satisfactory. As 

 many alpines delight in lime and few really dislike it, 

 some old lime rubble may be mixed in those places where 

 it is intended to grow lime-loving plants. Many alpines 



