THE 



GARDENER 



AUGUST 1879. 



■~&^&S$&&**s- 



MAKING AND PLANTING EOCKWORK. 



HE making of rockwork on which to cultivate rock and 

 alpine plants, and also as a feature of taste and variety 

 in the garden, is a labour often undertaken, but one 

 which is very difficult to execute. Legions of examples 

 of rockwork are to be found all over the country, — indeed, in most 

 gardens, — in more or less good or bad taste, from the offensive heaps 

 of vitrifactions from brick and glass works, to the admirable imita- 

 tions of stratified rocks on a large scale executed by Pulham, with the 

 assistance of the mason's art and plenty cement. Indeed, so good is 

 the imitation that one might fancy the quarry brought bodily into the 

 garden, as they move houses in America. The best specimens of arti- 

 ficial rockwork are generally to be found where the natural rock and 

 rock scenery is most abundant — where Nature's materials are at hand, 

 and where Nature is near to' show the way. The worst specimens, on 

 the other hand, are to be seen where the difficulties of site and materials 

 are the greatest — where the products of the glassworks are pressed 

 into the service, and where the site would be more suggestive of a 

 brick-yard than of living rock. I think one grand flower-show at least 

 can be remembered — an international one — where the rockwork was 

 done in coke. Between Pulham, on the one hand, and the coke rockery 

 on the other, there is room for many varieties of the art and mystery, 

 and the gap is well filled up. When a rockery is to be made, there are 

 two primary objects in view. The first is, that the fabric to be con- 

 structed shall be pleasing to the eye, and harmonise with the surround- 

 ings, — that it should not look toy-like, too artificial and incongruous, 

 but be an agreeable feature in the garden ; and the second is, that it 



