186 GARDEN DESIGN 



A natural change of level makes the best site. 

 Undulating ground often has parts which by throw- 

 ing some soil back would form a restful level, and 

 give an opportunity for rock work on the increased 

 steepness of the slope. Diagram 76 shows a sec- 



tion through land 



slightly moulded to 

 afford such a situa- 

 tion. The finest 

 place of all is an old 



DIAGRAM 7 6. quarry. On gravel 



soils the material 



for concrete and paths is often found on the estate. 

 Here is a chance not to be missed. Let the pit be 

 made at some distance from the house, but within 

 the garden enclosure, and opened from south to 

 north giving a sloping cart track to the pit, ending 

 in an abrupt cliff with a southern aspect. A 

 splendid sunny spot will be the result, where 

 alpines of all sorts will flourish. A little fore- 

 thought will enable the interior to be roughly 

 modelled during the excavation, which will save 

 much subsequent labour. Gravel pits are too 

 often considered a necessary evil to be condoned 

 only on account of their previous usefulness, 

 but to any one who cares for rock gardening they 

 are a valuable feature. The coloured drawing 

 (page 186) represents just such a gravel pit built 

 up into an alpine garden. The part drawn is the 

 old cart track, now paved, with a few steps at in- 



