PART L] CULTURAL 59 



Mr. F. W. Meyer, an excellent and experienced worker in 

 rock-gardening, writes well of the formation of bog-beds in the 

 Garden : 



" Though the term may be suggestive of a formal bed, there 

 should really be no hard-and-fast outline in the rock-garden,, 

 and the bog-bed should be harmonised with its surroundings 

 in such a way as to make it impossible to discern its extent. 

 We might have several such beds in different positions regard- 

 ing light, as some marsh plants thrive in the sun, while others 

 delight in shady nooks, and the wants of the plants must there- 

 fore be our first consideration. 



" Bog Beds without Cement are to be recommended when the 

 water supply is unlimited : if in connection with a pond fed 

 by a streamlet, so much the better. The overflow water of the 

 pond can then be used for feeding the bog-bed, or if the water 

 should only run occasionally, a short pipe fitted with a regu- 

 lating tap may be let into the side of the pond and connected 

 with the bog-bed, this arrangement having the advantage of 

 enabling us to keep the water supply under control. The con- 

 struction of such a bed is simplicity itself ; dig a pit of the 

 desired size about 18 inches deep, spreading at the bottom a 

 layer of porous stones, brickbats, and a little charcoal, and 

 covering the same with pieces of peat. Peaty soil, mixed with 

 a little leaf-mould, Sphagnum Moss, sand and broken stone, is 

 then added till the pit is filled up. A few larger stones are then 

 placed with some care, partly with a view to effect, and partly 

 to give shade or shelter to the plants to be grown by their side. 

 If the ground is heavy, the bottom of the pit must be drained 

 to get rid of stagnant water; but if of a porous nature, the 

 water will soak away naturally through the bottom of the bed 

 thus prepared. 



" The Cemented Bog Bed. Though at first involving a little 

 more expense, this will be found of great advantage in rock- 

 gardens on a small scale, where the supply of water comes 

 through a small pipe. It is an irregular underground pond, 

 made of cement concrete, and filled with soil as well as with 

 water, to a depth of 12 inches to 15 inches. Besides being 



