Gardening for Amateurs 



principle, and the actual proportions of soil 

 and gravel employed may vary without much 

 harm to the plants. It should form part of 

 the rock garden scheme, where it will appear 



the plants moist during the summer season, 

 a plug being so arranged as to carry off any 

 water which may fall upon it during the 

 winter months. By such a contrivance 



Photo : X. A. Malty. 



A paved pathway adds to the charm of a rockery. The joints are filled with soil, in 

 which seeds may be sown or low-growing flowers planted. 



as if the stones had been swept into a valley 

 by a torrent or small stream, which should, 

 if possible, be introduced into the rock 

 garden. A large moraine allows one to 

 introduce a few boulders, set here and there 

 among the stones. These will serve two 

 objects that of adding to the natural 

 appearance of the moraine and of providing 

 shelter or shade, as the case may be, for 

 plants calling for these. Some large rather 

 flat stones ought also to be placed firmly 

 in the moraine for the purpose of forming 

 stepping-stones for access to the plants. 

 It adds greatly to the usefulness and value 

 ot a moraine if a small streamlet, widening, 

 possibly, into a pool, is carried through it 

 in a cemented bed, or one formed of small 

 stones grouted with cement. Many lay a 

 concrete floor below their moraines, hollow- 

 ing out the concrete so that it forms a kind 

 of basin, into which water is led to keep 



many flowers which love moisture at the 

 root, but like to be dry above ground, are 

 rendered happy, and their lives prolonged. 

 A list of suitable plants for a moraine is 

 given afterwards. 



Paths in the Rockery. An important 

 consideration which seldom receives the 

 attention of the amateur constructing his 

 own rockery or rock garden is that of ready 

 access to the plants. Even if they are 

 plainly visible and their general beauty can 

 be seen from below, it is usually the case 

 that the flowers present some beauties which 

 well repay close examination. All stones 

 of fair size should be sunk into the soil and 

 made absolutely firm, so that they can be 

 trodden upon without being dislodged. 

 Enough good flattish stones ought to be 

 provided to enable the owner or his friends 

 to step on them to reach the flowers with 

 little difficulty. They may be supplementary 



