COMPONENT PARTS OF A GARDEN 187 



tervals. The effect is that of a rocky gorge, 

 which grows steeper until where the pit itself 

 opens out it is about 12 ft. below the ground level. 

 Water fortunately was found at the lowest part 

 and a small pool has been possible. The sides are 

 all cased with Bargate stone and good loam, re- 

 presenting a natural rock formation. Three flights 

 of steps in rough stone lead out of the pit in addi- 

 tion to the wide pathway shown. The drawing 

 was made thirteen months after its construction. 



If a rock garden is wanted on flat ground some 

 moving of soil is required. Excavation will 

 supply material for raising low mounds. The 

 excavated portion should be slightly sinuous and 

 run north and south. Unless the soil is very deep 

 it must not be merely dug up and flung on either 

 hand, but the whole of the surface soil should be 

 removed before modelling the shape, and subse- 

 quently replaced. The crest of the mounds should 

 be planted with choice shrubs to shield the interior 

 shelves of rock, and also to prevent their being 

 seen from the rest of the garden. 



A study of rock formations in situ is the best 

 way of seeing how to put up alpine gardens. A 

 rocky cliff or railway cutting shows lines of bedding 

 running in roughly parallel lines, and prominent 

 points have the return angle approximately at 

 right angles. Curves, and easy rounded corners 

 are never seen except after the action of weather- 

 ing, and then only in such very hard rocks as gran- 



