Paradise or Cemetery 13 



rarely convincing, however, as a good and permanent 

 home for alpine plants, and if not this, it certainly 

 misses its mark. In this connection the following 

 passage may not be out of place. It is taken from that 

 remarkable guide to Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames, 

 where the most elaborately designed rock garden in 

 this or any other country exists. At page 73 it is stated 

 that "The leading idea was to make it as natural in 

 appearance as possible, and the position of almost 

 every stone was individually thought out before it was 

 placed, or was subsequently altered to get the best 

 effect." This, indeed, has been the keynote of the re- 

 markable success achieved in the past; its harmonies 

 or unisons but the reward of patience and persever- 

 ance, in conjunction with much fundamental know- 

 ledge and large sympathies with Nature's work. This, 

 indeed, should also be the guiding spirit of every rock 

 builder, and where it exists there need be no fear as to 

 the results. A rock garden may be but a glorified rub- 

 bish heap, a stone-yard, or plant cemetery ; or it may 

 be a perpetual paradise teeming with the choicest of 

 Nature's gems, just in proportion to the amount of 

 thought and sympathy — not necessarily of cash — be- 

 stowed upon the work throughout. 



Fopm and Outline. — We have said these must be 

 largely governed by circumstances. The prospective 

 site of our rock garden might be of many kinds, a 

 steep, more or less rocky, one-sided bank, a natural 

 depression, or a piece of level ground out ofVwhich it is 

 hoped to raise something worthy. Hence, all cannot 

 be treated alike. The worst idea of all — it is men- 

 tioned in the fervent hope that it may not be any longer 

 propagated — is that type of rock garden which exposes 

 the rock everywhere. One sees such incongruities 

 beside lake or pond ; occasionally it may be with a view 

 to shut out something else, or anon btiilt upwards from 

 the turf without rhyme or reason. Such erections 

 suflEer most of all from extreme dryness, and are usually 



