138 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



been the study of their philosophers, sages, and poets for 

 many centuries, it is not surprising that only a superficial 

 understanding can be hoped for. 



The true aim of a rock garden should be to reproduce 

 in miniature a rugged mountain scene. In England we 

 do possess certainly one most successful imitation of the 

 Alps, and the arrangement of stones, running water, and 

 distant mountain peak is all rendered in such admirable 

 proportion and good taste that it is with some difficulty 

 we restrain ourselves from believing that truly it is the 

 Matterhorn in miniature we are looking at. There are, 

 however, but few gardens where space can be afforded 

 for such a wonderful representation of a natural wild piece 

 of scenery. Not everyone has the stone, water, plants, 

 and, above all, the years of patience necessary to carry out 

 so big an undertaking. Where it can be done, then it is 

 indeed an achievement to be proud of. But let us 

 consider more the humbler kind of rock gardens, and see 

 whether, by a careful study of Japanese methods of 

 skilled restraint, something very perfect, natural-looking, 

 and, above all, simple, cannot be accomplished in smaller 

 gardens. 



Fig. 88 shows the ground-plan of such a garden, 

 approached by sequestered paths, far from the formality of 

 the house. The whole intention here is that it shall be 

 seen first from a low level, and that the garden-lover 

 shall walk by narrow winding paths between high banks 

 of earth across a portion of the small pool at A, where 

 stepping-stones are placed to help him. From near the 

 little pool he has plenty of space to see the general effect 

 of the whole garden, and he will notice that it is not, as 

 is so usual in our English rock gardens, a display of rocks 

 and not many flowers, neither does it consist of a 

 botanic garden only of dwarf alpines and no other plants 

 with them. Here we have a happy unity of purpose. 



