A SUSSEX ROCK-GARDEN. 
and making a winding ravine leading from the rock-garden we were 
constructing to the quarry itself, and incorporating the latter into our 
scheme. I have entered into these details to show you that, although 
begun with very modest ideas, the general plan developed as we went 
on. The work of construction took four years. 
Before passing on, I must mention my indebtedness to Mr. Bowles 
for the valuable hints and suggestions he was good enough to make, 
both at the commencement of our work and later, when he and Mr. 
Reginald Farrer helped with their advice in making the moraine- 
garden, of which I shall say more directly. 
It is superfluous to occupy time with much detail as to the general 
principles on which a rock-garden is built. These can be obtained 
from the many excellent books on the subject. The more novel 
features in the Brockhurst rock-garden are the natural cliffs of solid 
rock and vents that abound, both in the ravine and the quarry. The 
first and lower portions were made in the usual way, and on the 
general principle of cutting wide sunken paths in the ground, and 
throwing up the earth thus dug out to form banks on either side. 
The poorer soil forms the core of the bank, the better soil being retained 
for the surface, which is then rocked upwards from the bottom, care 
being taken that each stone placed is firmly supported by one or more 
below it. The rocks are also slightly tilted towards the bank, so that 
rain falling runs towards the banks and among the roots of the plants, 
and not away from them leaving the plants to perish from drought. 
These introductory remarks would be incomplete without a brief 
reference to our climate. I will not burden you now with much detail, 
but my astronomical assistant, Mr. W. S. Franks, F.R. A.S., has prepared 
a careful account of the meteorology of our neighbourhood. We are 
in the habit of sending our records weekly to the local paper, and 
annually to Dr. H. R. Mills for his " British Rainfall." 
The Brockhurst Observatory is equipped with the usual six 
thermometers, the sunshine recorder, and the rainfall gauge. 
Owing to the topographical configuration of Brockhurst, with its 
downward slope towards the south and south-west, and through being 
protected by rising ground to the east and north-east, it is more 
sheltered than many other places in the immediate neighbourhood. 
It has frequently escaped the effect of frosts which have done serious 
damage at East Grinstead and Forest Row, on either side of it, and 
it also escapes some of the heavy rainfalls which sweep along the 
line of the valley, especially during thunderstorms. 
As regards temperature, our observations prove that, as compared 
with Greenwich, we are a few degrees warmer in the winter months 
and cooler in the summer months, and compared with the Greenwich 
records we have over 12 per cent, more hours of bright sunshine 
registered at Brockhurst. 
Now as to rainfall. The drainage area is that of the river Medway, 
which includes some of the wettest districts in Ashdown Forest. 
East Grinstead fortunately possesses a rainfall record of its own for 
VOL. XLII. T 
