The Rock Garden 3 



there is not the slightest excuse for a 

 rockery. Even that commonest of ex- 

 cuses, finding a use for stray stones, falls 

 to the ground. Any close observer of 

 nature is familiar with these types. The 

 natural rock gardens range from the 

 patches of alpine plants above the timber 

 line in high mountains down the lower 

 slopes and through defiles to fields on or 

 near sea level. Not infrequently they 

 come down to the very sea, while sweet 

 waters commonly define and, what is bet- 

 ter, are now and then incorporated in, 

 them here a pool, there a brook. The 

 bog, too, the heath and the desert, they 

 take unto themselves, though perhaps only 

 the nearer edge. And does man, by pon- 

 derous effort, raise up massive masonry 

 in orderly fashion ; one day disorder comes 

 and nature makes things look natural by 

 another kind of rock garden. Rome's 



