94 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



The foundation of any wall, retaining or otherwise, 

 must be a foot or so below the surface, and the 

 earth well rammed in ; while mortar may be used 

 in the first courses if considered necessary, which 

 it is usually found to be. The blocks of stone, 

 rough-hewn and not too regular, must be laid ac- 

 cording to their natural stratification, and should 

 tilt a little backwards for greater strength and in 

 order to get the full benefit of all rainfall. The 

 twofold purpose of dry-walling being borne well 

 in mind, viz. that it is for planting as well as 

 for its normal use, the layer of bedding soil should 

 be tolerably thick and well spread between each 

 course of stones, leaving no gaps, but, in the case 

 of a retaining wall, running back to meet and be 

 incorporated with the main body of earth behind 

 it. The joints of the stones should also be fairly 

 wide apart, and well filled in with garden soil. 

 Mortar need only be used at the angles, or where 

 the greatest resistance is likely to be felt. The 

 body of earth behind the facing wall should be 

 thoroughly well rammed, to prevent any after- 

 mischief, such as breaking outwards under ab- 

 normal conditions of wet or frost. Steps will 

 require consolidating by mortar at the angles and 

 at the joints of the front edges ; but it is a good 

 plan to make these shallow, and wide enough to 

 be fronted only with stone, and filled in with soil 

 towards the back of each step, making thereby 

 a little natural bed for the rooting of low-growing 

 plants. Dwarf campanulas, or musk, or tiny Al- 

 pines, like erinus, when once established, never 

 look more at home than in the cosy corners they 



