310 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



not fine sand alt(_igether, but a mixture of sand and 

 stones, the latter up to the size of turkey eggs. 

 Briefly, hunius and grit expresses the fundamental re- 

 quirements of rock plants, particularly alpines. 



As regards the kind of rock to use, that natural to 

 the district and nearest at hand is the best on econom- 

 ical grounds, provided it does not crumble to pieces 

 on being exposed to the weather. Rocks which have 

 been exposed to the weather and have lichens or moss 

 growing upon them are to be preferred ; freshly quar- 

 ried rock should not be used if any other is available. 

 The use of pieces of concrete, brick, broken columns 

 or any kind of artificial stone should not even be 

 thought of. 



There is nothing in mountainous districts where 

 alpine conditions prevail so likely to mislead as the 

 arrangement, or want of arrangement of the rocks. 

 Some of the ugliest and most desolate rock gardens 

 are the result of attempts to imitate the savage 

 chaos of alpine boulders, which is supposed to be fav- 

 orable to plant life because some alpines, difficult to 

 grow under artificial conditions, are to be found thriv- 

 ing among them at an elevation of 9,000 or more feet. 

 Now we in our gardens can provide an absurd and in- 

 significant imitation of this chaos, but we cannot iiro- 

 vide the elevation with the pure mountain air, the sus- 

 tained winter frost and constant snow mantle, and 

 the continuous summer moisture. The strewing a 

 few boulders about at random will enable a few Stone 

 Crops to flourish among them, but most other plants 

 worth while going to any trouble for will take the 

 first opportunity of dying; and an imitation chaos 

 devoid of vegetation is, in a garden, scarcely less ugly 

 than a rubbish heap. 



In studying the rockwork of nature we must know 

 the actual function rocks ought to perform in a gar- 

 den. If this is borne in mind one can get many valu- 

 able hints from alpine districts, both practical and 

 aesthetic. The first of these is that all rocks should 

 be so placed that the roots of plants near them will 

 be able to run under them, and so get protection from 

 drought in summer and from cold and wet in the 

 winter. Some ambitious rock gardens may be seen 

 with the rocks driven perpendicularly down into the 

 earth, in which position they are practically useless. 

 Those who have been in alpine districts will have 

 noticed that the finest specimens of alpine plants are 

 to be found often in conditions not otherwise favor- 

 able, Init at the edge of a great boulder which slants 

 into the ground, so that their roots can run under it 

 and get coolness and shelter as far as they are likely 

 to penetrate : and it is in the slanting fissures of huge 

 rocks that many of the more difficult plants grow best 

 and most abundantly. Therefore, we should never 

 place a rock without thinking of the plant that is to 

 profit by it, nor should we consider rocks apart from 

 roots, for the sole function of rocks in a rock garden 

 is to protect roots and not to look rugged or i)ic- 

 turesque. 



Another point is to have the rocks as large as pos- 

 sible so that they may be sunk a good distance into 

 the soil and give' continuous protection to deep root- 

 ing plants. In making the rockery it is better to 

 build up soil and rocks together, not to place all the 

 soil into position and then place the rocks after. The 

 tops of the rocks should not be very much above the 

 soil, only just sufficient to form pockets; in fact, if 

 they are level with the surface when the rockery is 

 made, the natural sinking of the soil will give them 

 about the right position, for in viewing a rock garden 

 the eye should be filled by plants, not rocks. 



There are many alpine plants which grow withnut 

 recks at all and thickly carpet the bottoms of valleys 

 among the mountains, forming actual lawns of flow- 

 ers ; but when these plants are brought down into 

 our gardens they invariably need to have their roots 

 protected by rocks. 



One reason why the formation of pockets is ad- 

 vantageous is because we can make such additions to 

 the soil in a pocket necessary to suit special require- 

 ments of individual species. Some, for instance, pre- 

 fer a soil containing lime, like the Milkworts and Bee 

 Orchis. One does not usually associate any of the 

 Rhododendron family with lime, but R. chainaeccstns. 

 a delightful species native of the mountains of Europe, 

 likes it. Another alpine Rhododendron, lappouiciim, 

 is found upon the New England mountains, but the 

 writer is unaware whether it prefers a soil containing 

 lime or not. Then Eriogoniiiii, native of the Rockies. 

 not only likes lime, but also a soil composed of half 

 grit. When lime is added it should be in the form of 

 old broken lime mortar, or broken, not groimd, lime 

 rock ; biumt or slaked lime should never be used. 

 {To be continued.) 



(Editor's Note. — In tlw August number Mr. Smith zvill ex- 

 plain the best planting methods, varieties of alpines best suited 

 to our climate, and tlie pleasure of gathering a collection of the 

 plants.) 



ROCK GARDEN BUILT BY J. J. HUSS. 



The situation of the layout, forming a valley, was 

 naturally quite suggestive of the establishment of a Rock 

 or Alpine garden, the straight walk leading to the 

 sunken garden and connecting also witii the extensive 

 fern garden, writes J. F. Huss. in describing the beau- 

 tiful rock garden he planned and developed on the late 

 J. J. Goodwin estate, Hartford, Conn., and of which we 

 present some views in these columns. 



"There may be a great many diversities, tastes or 

 opinions as to Alpine gardens, but as for myself," he 

 writes, "where the aerial position is not extended to an 

 extent where every plant is not in view of, or before us. 

 large tall growing plants would not harmonize with the 

 surroundings." His idea is only to use plants that will 

 not exceed twelve inches as the tallest plants, just as we 

 find them in the Alps, and mingled with low and creeping 

 varieties which will cover some of the rocks, as you will 

 observe in the illustrations. The most beautiful efliect 

 of this Alpine flora is attained during the months of 

 Alav and June. The following collections are those 

 contained in his garden which have given superb satis- 

 faction, especiallv this season, being an unusual cool one. 

 which seems to have lieen beneficial, as found in the .\lps. 



The many varieties of Primulas. Auriculas in many 

 beautiful colors ; Pohanthus with all the colors of the 

 rainbow, with Sibbaldia, \'eitchi. and others planted in 

 semi-shaded positions, among which are the many va- 

 rieties of Phlox subulatas. with the three divaricatas, as 

 seen on the left of the illustration, together with 

 Aubrietias and Arabis and rosea, with various Ceras- 

 ciums and Erysum hanging over the rocks on each side 

 of the paths. Alyssum Saxatile and flora plena of beau- 

 tiful golden color. Further along we find the following 

 varieties: Betonica rosea. Lychnis splendens fl. pi. 

 Lychnis alpina, Draba olympica. Anemone alpina, Alche- 

 milla splendens. Alsine. Gentiana acaulis. Gentiana 

 Andrewsii, Helianthemum single and flora plena, Dian- 

 thus, dwarf Iris. \'eronica. Arenaria montana. Cam- 

 panula in many varieties. Primula, Geraniums, Ajuga, 

 Daphne. Alchemilla, Potentilla, Soldanella alpina, Saxi- 

 fraga and Sedums in many varieties, Silene, Leontodon in 

 several varieties, with many others too numerous to 

 mention. 



