IRISH GARDENING 



87 



Bold Rockwork. 



In the last issue of Irish Gardening an illus- 

 tration of Saxifrages on a small rockery Was 

 given, demonstrating the fact that as far as 

 the cultivation of the plants is concerned huge 



Something of tlie same effect can be got by 

 using a number of smaller stones of a shape 

 suitable for placing together, the sx^aces be- 

 tween them being carefully filled with gritty 

 soil so as to resemble one large rock which 

 has been cracked. In the cracks Saxifrages of 

 many kinds and other small Alpines establish 



Bold l^)rK\V' 



AVELL PLANTED, AT C'l'RRACU (iUAXGi:. KlLDAKK 



stones are not essential. Where, however, 

 position and circumstances are suitable, fuie 

 bold effects are possible by the use of a few 

 good stones well placed. In the illustration 

 sliown in the present issue, which is from a 

 photograph taken in the rock garden at Cur- 

 ragh Grange, we see an instance of what can 

 be done. Advantage has been taken of a 

 natural incline to throw up the banks, and by 

 carefully placing a few V)old stones the effect 

 of a i-ocky valley has been obtained, and as 

 there are stretches of good gritty soil inter- 

 vening between the rocks, many fine colonies 

 of good Alpines find a happy home. 



themselves very Avell. This plan may be 

 adopted, too, when large stones are scarce, 

 and may be made to look like an outcrop 

 either from a slope or from flat ground, the 

 important point being to ensure that the cracks 

 are continuous to the main body of soil, either 

 behind or below the stones, as the ease may 

 be. The construction of rock-Work is largely 

 a matter of taste and position, and most people 

 have to make the best of what stones they can 

 get. Experts have much to say about strati- 

 fication and so forth, but no hard and fast 

 rules can be laid down which will suit all 

 cases. RocKFOiL. 



