104 The American Flower Garden 



stones, sunk to the level of the surrounding soil, with ferns, mosses, 

 or little creeping plants overgrowing their edges, make the ideal 

 path. Pebbles loosely scattered over an earth walk of flowing 

 outline keep the feet dry, and if the edges of the path are broken 

 irregularly by rocks over which little creepers steal out into the 

 open, they give no offence to a critical eye. Whenever steps 

 are necessary and broken levels that add so much to the charm 

 of any garden have most reason to exist where rocks cause many 

 uneven surfaces let them be made, like the path, of flat surfaced 

 stones deeply imbedded in the earth, or grouted in cement, if there 

 be danger of frost throwing them out of position. Steps of cedar 

 or locust logs, that will not rot on the ground for many years, are 

 also harmonious, but these, like the rocky steps and stepping-stones 

 in the path, should be unequally spaced and surrounded by good 

 soil that will encourage little plants to grow close about them and 

 partially conceal their outlines. One feature of a rock garden in a 

 large public park which should serve as a warning to all beholders, 

 is, unfortunately, mistaken for an example. Rows of sharply 

 pointed rocks, like a gigantic set of false teeth, are set along the 

 path with a profusion of mixed magenta and scarlet portulacas 

 among them only adding to the horror. After a long series of 

 eliminations from gardens, public and private, one finally learns 

 at least what not to do. 



Nearly every rock garden has too much rock in evidence. 

 Plant it out! Allow only glimpses of it here and there, 

 unless some fine great boulders, undraped by vines, or un- 

 clothed by polypodies, or unscreened by dwarf evergreens, add a 

 touch of nobility to the too sweet beauty of the picture you 

 are trying to create. 



The trace of a cutting tool on rocks can easily destroy all 



