258 GARDEN DESIGN 



alpine garden has to be done. The most workable 

 method is to have a contract for constructional 

 work, such as moving soil, making paths and walls, 

 and a separate arrangement altogether for the 

 planting. And because planting is much affected 

 by the state of the soil and the weather I recom- 

 mend that the labour of this part of the work be 

 reckoned by the day, and not by piece, so that there 

 be no difficulty in stopping operations if conditions 

 become unfavourable. 



Structural work in the garden can proceed 

 simultaneously with the house. The first deed is 

 to form the drive. I have seen bad mistakes made 

 by the builder being first on the scene, and cutting 

 through the hedge according to his ideas of con- 

 venient access, when the future gate was to be in 

 quite another place. An old hedge takes a long 

 time to recover such an injury, and a plan of the 

 entrance ought to have been ready against such a 

 mishap. The drive should be excavated, and 

 receive enough hard core to make it practicable 

 for carts, and the material that comes out can be 

 pitched straight away on the spots where it will 

 be needed. 



Posts and ropes should be set round the site of 

 the house if there is grass and timber on the place 

 which is to be preserved, and the builder must keep 

 his materials within the boundary. Any trees 

 that may be within the area required for storage 

 and work should have their trunks protected by a 



