ARTIFICIAL ROCKERIES. 



larly struck with the tameness and insipidity of a work about, which so much had been 

 said and written; and instead of being the expression of highly cultivated and refined 

 taste in a gardenesque landscape, seemed rather intended as a practical lesson to the next 

 incipient volcano, that became active in England, that it might lieave up the rocks and 

 scatter about its boulders according to the principles of taste displayed in the Chatsworth 

 rockery. 



Large rockeries, like large flower gardens, lose their interest with their limited space. 

 A large, open artistical or geometrical flower garden, of ten or more acres, has a far less 

 pleasing effect upon the mind of the spectator, than one a quarter or half an acre in ex- 

 tent, situated in a retired recess of the pleasure ground. In like manner a large mass of 

 rocks, however tastefull}^ arranged, in a spacious pleasure ground, has less influence on 

 the imagination than a small irregularis^ arranged group, in a confined and secluded nook, 

 Avith all the wild savageness of primitive nature around it. Indeed, a low confined dell, 

 the channel of a ravine, or a quiet secluded hollow, retired from everything architectural 

 or artificial, appears to be the most proper place for a rockery. The spectator should come 

 upon it quite unexpectedlj^, but not by a sudden transition of the general scene, although 

 circumstances may often occur to render sudden transitions unavoidable. 



One of the prettiest rockeries I ever beheld, was made in an old stone quarr}', which in 

 its original condition, was not only dangerous, but a serious disfiguration to the place. 

 Trees were planted on the margin, and threw their dependent branches irregularly down 

 the face of the rocks. Ferns and other plants, were planted in niches and clefts made in 

 the rock in different places; paths were also cut for walking along the steep sides; groups 

 were arranged in different forms and of different heights; jets were introduced in different 

 places, in small basins, and formed the most enchanting spot imaginable. 



It is not, however, absolutely necessary to deprive a small garden of rockwork, and the 

 cottage architecture of this countr}', permits the nearer approach of rockwork tlian the 

 enormous mansions of English gentlemen. The monotony and tameness of a villa garden 

 ma}' be considerably relieved and diversified by the introduction of rocks, especially if 

 the grounds afford a position naturally favorable, such as natural rocks, or a secluded cor- 

 ner, or water in any form — for water, if possible, should invariably form an appendage to 

 a rocker}'. But to introduce large stones and boulders on a lawn, or in a shrubbery con- 

 tiguous to the house, or having them scattered about singly, on the grass, on the margins 

 of a lake, or beside a bridge, as they are frequently to be seen, may justly be regarded as 

 a monstrous infringement on taste, and a foolish mockery of nature. 



Rockwork may sometimes be placed in the proximity of glass structures, and even in 

 flower gardens, with good effect, when these are of a gothic or rustic character, but here 

 the rockwork must have none of the savage wildness of nature about it, and consequentl3r 

 nothing of the impressive picturesqueness of natural rocks. It should be rendered con- 

 formable to the objects around it, and appearing to be placed there for the purpose of cul- 

 tivating those plants that succeed best among rocks; or for showing the natural habits of 

 plants that grow naturally among rocks, or those that produce a better effect when plant- 

 ed on them. In these cases the rocks should be more artistically and tastefull}' arranged. 

 It should be clearly shown by their arrangement and accompaniments, that no attempt is 

 made to imitate nature, but rather a proper place for displaying and cultivating the plants 

 that are grown upon them. 



Rockeries of this kind depend for their interest and beauty, more on the disposition of 



plants than on any influence possessed by themselves,and therefore they should never be 



ed to become bare, otherwise they dwindle down to meaningless conceits. They ought 



