THE WHITE ROCKERY 59 



particular. I like the relation of rock and soil to 

 resemble that in which these plants grow at home. 

 I like to arrange a place and food for their roots, 

 such as those roots are accustomed to ; and I 

 endeavour to give this plant sunshine and that plant 

 shade ; this a dry spot, and that a damp one, because 

 their likes or dislikes in these matters are known, and 

 they will perish, or at least disappoint, if their needs 

 are not considered. Indeed they do often enough 

 refuse to live as it is. Between my ignorance and 

 the Devonshire climate, many are doomed from their 

 arrival. This rock-border is merely a theatre for the 

 display of hundreds of little plants. Nothing could 

 be more beautiful when the place is one brilliant 

 sheet of flower-light in June ; nothing could be 

 less like nature's own ordinance, because here are 

 assembled as many different races of plants as you 

 will find races of men in an Eastern bazaar. From 

 all parts of the world they come ; from north, south, 

 east, and west ; from the Cape and Kamtchatka ; 

 from Mount Lebanon and the Rockies ; from India, 

 Japan, and Australia. I think there are but few 

 'gardener's plants' among them. With certain ex- 

 ceptions my company here are all recognised species. 

 Some flourish ; some languish ; some perish un- 

 timely, do what I will to establish them. 



By your leave we start at the west end, and I 

 will spread the panorama before you. Bulbs begin 

 it where in spring rise the snake's-head fritillaries 

 and the snake's - head irises. They are scattered 

 about over this part of the rock-work, and shoot up 



