76 



Villa Gardens 



This may be done by using a light soil in 

 combination with masses of stone, brick or other 

 porous material, the function of which latter is 

 that of the potato in the Scotchman's tobacco 

 pouch — to conserve the moisture. The soil 

 must be light and porous but never dry, and 

 the rocks will ensure this last condition if they 

 be of the right material. 



We elevate our rock gardens principally 

 for the purpose of securing efficient drain- 

 age, a necessity if we are to preserve 

 our plants through the wet and cold of 

 winter. 



The rocks thus become accessory to the 

 soil, and by no means the principal factor 

 in our Alpine garden, for it will now be 

 understood that apart from their function of 

 retaining and equalising the moisture, and in 

 a lesser degree in assisting drainage, they 

 exercise no other influence on the plants. 



Therefore it is not necessary to be lavish of 

 rocks. 



The suburban gardener will find difficulty in 

 obtaining stone at a price to suit his purse. 



