94 HOME AND GARDEN 



soil and bare rock, varied with an undergrowth of the 

 sun-loving Heaths, Lavender-Cotton, and the aromatic 

 Artemisias, in wide plantings and long drifts, always 

 faithfully following the run of the rocks. 



These plants and shrubs, among a good many 

 others that might be employed in the same way, came 

 first to mind because of a general likeness or harmony 

 of leaf-colour ; for I should think it desirable, had it 

 ever been my happiness to be able to plant such a 

 large wild rock-garden, to avoid too great a mixture of 

 quality of leaf-colour in the main masses. And just as 

 it seemed the better plan in the shaded region of the 

 upper pool to have a preponderance of the cool, fresh 

 yellowish-green of Fern and Moss, so on the sim-baked 

 rocky banks below I should try for a distinct picture of 

 the greyish and low-toned blue-gi-eens so prevalent 

 among those herbs and bushy growths of the Mediter- 

 ranean region, that are good enough to make them- 

 selves at home in more northern latitudes. 



Though such a large half-wild rock-garden as I 

 have attempted to sketch may only be possible to a 

 very few among the great number of those who love 

 rock-plants, such a more extensive view of its possi- 

 bilities does not in the least degree put one out of 

 sympathy with the small rock-gardens now so abun- 

 dant, and that give their owners so much pleasure. 

 My own covers but a few square yards, but many are 

 even smaller, and perhaps a little worse built and 



