34 ROCK GARDENS 



When the work of clearing and exposing 

 the rock has been done, the next operation is 

 to prepare receptacles for the soil in which 

 to grow the plants. These may be obtained 

 by opening up and developing natural fissures, 

 by making new ones, or by forming pockets 

 among the rocks. 



The only means of accomplishing this is 

 with the crowbar or cold chisel, assisted at 

 times with some explosive, such as dynamite 

 or gunpowder ; but this latter method is 

 dangerous in every sense. Besides requiring 

 very careful manipulation, it is very apt to do 

 more harm than good by removing rocks that 

 would have been better left, or by impercep- 

 tibly loosening others, the first intimation 

 of whose unstable condition is finding them 

 one morning at the foot of the cliff burying 

 some of our choicest plants in their debris. 

 It is well to remember, when splitting rocks, 

 whether it be for the purpose of making or 

 enlarging some crevice, or opening up some 

 pocket, to first find out how the " grain " 

 of the rock runs, and split the rocks with, not 

 across it. For rock, like wood, has a regular 



