174 THE FLORIST. 



be no loose stones. The outside row should not be more than two 

 or three inches above ground, and the stones should be laid close to 

 each other in order to prevent the soil from escaping between them ; 

 this being done, fill up level with some good compost well beaten 

 down ; then lay the next tier a foot or so farther back, with stones 

 varying from one foot to two in height, placing them close together 

 also. This, too, must be irregular; but instead of following the zig- 

 zag form of the first line, corners may occasionally be brought out as 

 far as the inner corners of the first. In setting the stones, the outside 

 or face should always be as upright as possible ; for they never look 

 well when set in a sloping direction. This tier being of different- 

 sized stones, the highest should always be where there is the largest 

 base ; this again should be filled up with soil to the height of the 

 lowest stones, leaving the peaks to stand up. Then the next tier 

 should be laid about another foot back, and built in a similar way, 

 keeping in view the erect position of the stones, and having the 

 highest to alternate with those of the last terrace ; this being again 

 filled up, other two may be made on exactly the same principle ; then 

 a few larger stones may be set on the remaining space, leaving room 

 for two or three evergreen shrubs, such as Berberis aquifolium. 



If a small rockery were built in the manner just described, the 

 slope on the sides would consist of little shelves, on which plants 

 might be grown, not only alpines, but such as there might be some 

 in flower nearly all the year through. For spring-flowering the fol- 

 lowing may be planted : Crocus sativus, Anemone apennina (blue), 

 Hepaticas, Arabis grandiflora (variegated), white; Aubrietia deltoidea 

 (pinkish), Gentiana verna (blue), G. acaulis (blue), Alyssum saxatile 

 (yellow), Primula auricula (yellow and purple), common Primroses, 

 Draba azoides (yellow), Saxifraga csespitosa (white), S. oppositifolia 

 (red), &c. Then, for summer: Aquilegia glandulosa (blue), cana- 

 densis (scarlet), A. grandiflora, var. bicolor, Campanula media (blue), 

 C. nobilis (purple blue), C. pumila (white and blue), Dianthus del- 

 toides (pink), Digitalis purpurea, Crucinella stylosa (pink), Statice 

 tartarica (blue), Trollius asiaticus (yellow), and T. europseus (ditto). 

 Some of the dwarf varieties of Verbenas would also make a good 

 show, and they would keep in flower until cut down by frost. For 

 winter a few roots of Christmas Roses, winter Aconite, and Snowdrop 

 might be planted. 



Then, those whose little piece of ground is overshaded by trees 

 may have a small rockwork built as above described, and instead of 

 flowering plants, they may have native Ferns arranged in such a man- 

 ner as to have the larger sorts hanging over the stones. Around the 

 bottom some of the species of Saxifrage would both succeed and 

 look well; such as S. azoides, S. hypnoides, and S. csespitosa, of 

 which there are several varieties. Then, for the top : Aspidium filix 

 mas, A. spinulosum, A. oreopteris, Osmunda regalis, and Asple- 

 nium filix fsemina, will have the desired effect. For the sides I 

 would choose Polypodium vulgare, P. dryopteris, Asplenium adian- 

 tum nigrum, A. trichomanes, Aspidium lobatum, Scolopendrum vul- 

 gare, Blechnum boreale, Adiantum capillus veneris, and Crypto- 



