ROCK GARDEN CONSTRUCTION ii 



Earth ridges, through which weathered rocks thrust 

 their naked shoulders, as on the cleaves of Dartmoor : 

 narrow defiles, pierced by the rushing streams of the 

 smaller Derbyshire dales — these are suggestive examples 

 of Nature's rock gardens. Nothing looks more pointless 

 than a circular mound of earth and stones raised on 

 perfectly level ground, or the thrusting of a bristling 

 rock promontory across the smooth expanse of a lawn. 

 As a connecting link between two distinct parts of the 

 property, the rock garden fulfils an admirable purpose, 

 and in this case, it matters little whether the way lies 

 through a sunken passage or across sharply rising ground, 

 necessitating the use of rough steps cut in the side of the 

 hill. In such places an entire change of design is 

 demanded, and the use of rockwork appears perfectly 

 natural. 



"Rockeries " are put up in the most absurd situations — 

 beneath trees, even encircling the trunks ; against walls 

 of houses, and in the centre of gravel paths, where they 

 look as though they had been shot bodily out of a cart. 

 It is time that we ceased to employ a beautiful race of 

 plants for association with such contemptible efforts, and 

 bestowed on the growing of Alpines the same rational 

 considerations that are deemed necessary for the culture 

 of vegetables. 



When a pathway is cut through a high bank, as is 

 often necessary in hill gardens, the steep sides may be 

 prepared for planting by the use of stones to form rough 

 walling. Many Alpines succeed better on these almost 

 perpendicular faces than on level ground, and the walls 

 are so constructed that they show no trace of mason's 

 work, but resemble rather the sheer drop of a miniature 

 cliff. Raised banks between two sections of the garden, 

 natural knolls and wild craggy ground covered with 

 furze and heather, suggest themselves as other spots 

 offering inducements for conversion into rock gardens. 



