THE ROGK BORDER 95 



it round about them so that all the crevices are filled, 

 and making it firm. Thus the rocks, settling with the 

 soil, will be immovable. One should make every effort 

 to arrange the rocks as naturally as possible. The surest 

 way to avoid mistakes is to place them on their broadest 

 base ; the commonest fault is to stick them up on end, 

 for the sake of showing as much stone as possible. In 

 any case the greater part of the rock should be covered 

 with soil, so that it has the appearance of a natural outcrop 

 such as may be seen on any rocky cliff in hilly districts. 

 If these simple rules are followed the effect can scarcely 

 be other than pleasing and congruous. The lowest stones 

 should, of course, be put in first ; otherwise it will be im- 

 possible to ensure a firm foundation. No rock should 

 rest directly upon another there should be soil between ; 

 and no upper rock should overhang a lower one, or the 

 plants in the crevices of the latter may perish for lack 

 of moisture. When all the rocks are in position and 

 they should be so disposed as to provide an irregular 

 and varying outline the remaining soil is filled in. 

 This should consist of two-thirds ordinary garden 

 soil, one-third leaf-soil, with sand and grit added 

 freely. 



One need not depend on the rocks altogether for 

 irregularity and variety of outline. This may be secured 

 by arranging mounds of soil of different heights here 

 and there. In fact, these are necessary to the perfect 

 rock border, for when draped with Aubrietia, with Mossy 

 Saxifrage, or some other easily grown evergreen alpine, 



