~=-C 



13 2 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



by contenting themselves for the first year or two with a plain rock 

 bed or mound, and proceeding to more elaborate things after they 

 have gained experience. In any case, however, they will be wise 

 to choose a sunny position, because rock plants love the sun. 

 Such few as do best with shade and a great deal of moisture can 

 be placed near the foot, or on the north side of large, vertical 



stones. 



Whatever be the size of the rockery it will be worth while to pay 

 particular attention to the provision of fertile soil. Good, fibrous 



loam is the best, for it will grow the 

 great majority of Alpine plants suc- 

 cessfully. Fibrous loam is the under 

 part of turf which has been stacked 

 until the grass has decayed. It is not 

 always easy to get turf at a reasonable 

 cost say, threepence per square yard 

 but the rockery-builder should always 

 look about him, and try to procure it. 

 He ought, indeed, to begin his foraging 

 some months before he wants to com- 

 mence his rockery, because then he can 

 stack the turf in a heap, grass side downwards, preferably with 

 decayed manure, or leaves, between the layers, near the site of 

 his rockery, and so be sure of an adequate supply of suitable 

 material when the time comes to begin. If he does not do this 

 he must do one of two things when he commences his rockery 

 either use the ordinary soil of the garden, or buy the necessary 

 supply of special material. It is not often that the former can be 

 spared in quantity, or that it would be good enough if it could. 

 And as regards buying what is required, it is a somewhat expen- 

 sive undertaking, and needs circumspection. The buyer should 

 see a sample before he parts with his money, and satisfy himself 

 that the soil is friable, and contains plenty of fibre. The soil 



ROCKERY EDGINGS TO PATHS 

 A, path ; B, B, rockeries ; C, C, borders 



