THE WISLEY ROCK AND WATER GARDEN. 



227 



retain and preserve as a feature, a few naturalistic outcrops of rock 

 being suggested in the banks and surroundings, to bring this portion 

 of the ground more into harmony with the rocks above, without altering 

 the general appearance and contour, which were already quite happy. 



Crossing the larger pond was a rustic Silver Birch bridge, which 

 remains, and from this it was proposed that vistas should be obtained 

 looking upwards through a valley formed by manipulating the inter- 

 vening ground between this bridge and the principal scenic feature in 

 the rock garden, a waterfall in the highest part of the ground. The 

 water from this fall flows down the hillside in a series of pools and 

 small falls, to the ponds below. 



The introduction of this waterfall and stream was, perhaps, a 

 somewhat bold stroke, considering that the site appeared to be devoid 

 of water with the exception of the lily pools already referred to. The 

 designers of the scheme felt strongly, however, that it was very desir- 

 able, for many reasons, to introduce water, the chief one being that, 

 in their estimation, a rock garden without the damp and sedgy places 

 which are necessary for the well-being of the many moisture-loving 

 plants might well be likened to ' ' Hamlet ' ' without the ghost. A short 

 extract from the accepted specification and report, dealing with this 

 part of the scheme may help us to follow it a little more closely : — 



"The question of water needs careful consideration, for we antici- 

 pate that none will be met with in excavating the bank. For the pur- 

 pose, however, of giving character "to the rock garden, we have indicated 

 a streamlet trickling through the site from the top corner, which, 

 winding about with its series of waterfalls, finds its way to the sedgy 

 pools below. Any land drains that may be found will be utilized as 

 far as possible. If it be desired at any time to have a continuous 

 supply of water, it could be secured by means of an oil or petrol engine, 

 connected with a centrifugal pump, to draw the water from the lower 

 pools and force it up into a small reservoir at the top, in order that 

 when running water was required the engine could be put in motion. 

 There would be practically no waste of water, the same being used and 

 re-used." 



Amongst other proposals comprised in the scheme were a bog 

 garden, and an entirely new path leading into the site, the latter enter- 

 ing at the top corner and traversing the higher part of the ground. 

 Hitherto — no doubt on account of the site being so little frequented — 

 the only existing path conducted visitors direct to the bottom along 

 by the ponds. Had this been retained as the only path it would 

 have involved climbing up to the higher parts of the rock garden, a 

 height of about fifty feet, to the top, and back. This the new path 

 obviates. 



Having accepted the general scheme, the Council, being desirous 

 of making some slight alterations, invited Mr. White and Messrs. 

 PuLHAM to meet a .small sub-committee to consider these points. A 

 meeting at Wisley was therefore decided upon, preparatory to which 

 some trial holes were sunk for inspection, to ascertain the exact nature 



