Rock Gardens. 



243 



FIG. 363. TREATMENT OF AN ODD CORNER. 



simple rules be obeyed, the 

 rock garden will appear to be 

 something inherent in the soil, 

 and not a mere fortuitous 

 medley of stones. It is desir- 

 able that all the rocks should 

 dip the same way. It used 

 to be thought that it was 

 necessary to have all stones 

 dipping backward into the 

 soil, but experience has shown 

 that this is not so. The reverse 

 slope shown in Fig. 367 at A 

 will conserve moisture quite as 

 effectually as the slopes indi- 

 cated at C and E. The forma- 

 tion shown also in Fig. 367 by 

 B and D has been found 

 successful from every point of 

 view. The actual appearance 

 of rocks laid as shown by 

 C and E is seen in Figs. 359 

 and 360 respectively. The 

 whole of the soil underlying 

 the rock garden must be 

 thoroughly trenched and 

 worked to a depth of at least 

 two and a half feet, and 

 deeper still if possible. Plenty 

 of leaf mould, or thoroughly 

 rotten manure, should be in- 

 corporated in the soil. 



dozen clumps of choice silvery and mossy 

 saxifrages, but the rocks, though large and 

 good, are so placed that not only do they 

 fail to please, but they do not readily 

 permit of proper planting. Stones properly 

 stratified, on the other hand, are admirably 

 adapted to the needs of the plants. The 

 best all-round kind of rock to employ is 

 weather-worn limestone, which is beautiful 

 in itself. Natural stone should be used 

 wherever it occurs in the district. Sand- 

 stone crumbles somewhat rapidly, but the 

 grit thus produced is a valuable rooting 

 medium. Avoid, as you would the plague, 

 all manner of brickbats, clinkers, concrete 

 and tree trunks. Always lay the stones with 

 their broadest face downwards. If these 



FIG. 36.J. ALPINE PRIMULAS GROWING IN VERTICAL FISSURE. 



