132 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



victim to their beauty at one of the large London flower- 

 shows ; for, regardless of the time of the year, the state of 

 the ground, or any such details, she has ordered a con- 

 signment in full flower to come at once and decorate her 

 garden. All true garden-lovers would wish to see these 

 small gems, which go vaguely by the name of " alpines " 

 in horticultural catalogues, in a position where they can 

 be watched over and tended without the risk of being 

 overgrown by taller plants, which there always is if they 

 are put in a large herbaceous border. It is for these that 

 the humbler forms of rock garden are useful. 



DRY WALLS 



Often an old garden merges almost unconsciously into 

 the park ; that is to say, we are led by grass openings 

 between tall trees to a boundary where garden ends 

 and park begins. It is possible where there is an ancient 

 " ha-ha," with its supporting wall formed of old stones, to 

 steal a bit of it for garden purposes and let the park be en- 

 croached upon to some small extent. Should there be cattle 

 grazing there it will be necessary to put a sweet-briar, or 

 some such prickly but natural-growing hedge, to prevent 

 their invasion of the new garden domain. This can be done 

 in such a style and shape that it will not attract the eye 

 or look artificial ; it must be at some distance from the 

 " ha-ha," so that sunlight falls upon the old wall. This 

 rock garden will best be seen from a grass walk below, 

 for we can then stand and look up at it. 



Upon the top of the wall is a good-sized bed, in which 

 are planted, somewhat sparsely, and at intervals along it, 

 Wichnriana roses, clematis, and other creepers that fall 

 down gracefully over it. They must not be allowed to 

 encroach too much, to become matted together, or in 

 any way to interfere with large free spaces in the wall, 

 because it is in these that will be found homes for the rock- 



