THE ROCK GARDEN 



CHAPTER I 

 THE BEST POSITION FOR A ROCK GARDEN 



THAT there is nothing better than the best every- 

 body will be ready to admit, hence "the best 

 position for a rock garden," put in question form, 

 would have for its answer, "One entirely in the open, a 

 position removed from the presence or near proximity 

 of large trees, equally prejudicial to success by reason 

 of their root-spread and the shade or drip consequent 

 upon their overhanging branches." In respect to the 

 root-spread of certain trees — Elm, Lime and Poplar, 

 for example — it need only be said that their root fibres 

 are capable of travelling a considerable distance, even 

 40 to 60 feet from the spot where the original speci- 

 mens were planted. Moreover, in the case of the Elm, 

 the trouble is not at an end with the felling or uproot- 

 ing of the tree, since on its roots are formed eyes or 

 buds which, springing quickly into active life, send up 

 suckers in all directions. In the case of the Lime, an 

 instance came to my notice many years ago where the 

 roots of the trees had crossed a road 40 feet wide, and 

 so occupied a rockery on its one side as to render it 

 useless for all plant life. In this particular instance the 

 difficulty was overcome at the suggestion of the author 

 by digging out a deep trench outside the rockery 

 boundary and severing all root fibres, and subsequently 

 remaking that portion of it affected. The first part of 

 the suggestion had to be undertaken every two or 

 three years, as the trees grew in an adjoining p;arden. 

 Hence it will be seen at the outset that the selection of a 

 suitable site is a matter of some moment if our efforts 



