WHILST all the English world is occupied in 

 buying small plants with which to form rock 

 gardens, it may seem presumption to suggest 

 that there are certain gardens that would be decidedly 

 more restful without an attempt at so difificult a style of 

 gardening. Unless a rock garden is likely to be abso- 

 lutely natural-looking and harmonious with the surround- 

 ing garden landscape it had best be restricted to one of 

 the humbler forms, such as what is called " dry wall " 

 gardening, for which nearly all can find a happy place. 



The advantage of this style is that we can more readily 

 find a position for it near the house, where these rock walls 

 will in no sense clash with architectural formal lines. 

 Thus the difficult question of design is made easier than 

 if we had to seek at a distance the wild or semi-wild spot 

 that would alone be suitable for a rock garden proper. 

 This study of design is perhaps the part of garden craft 

 most sorely needing attention in English gardens. 



Let us consider, therefore, how best to find suitable 

 surroundings and homes for those precious plants which are 

 so often seen in small pots, packed in wooden boxes with 

 " Perishable " written all over them, awaiting the good 

 pleasure of the head-gardener at a country railway- 

 station. The lady of the house has evidently fallen a 



131 



