THE ROCKWORK 73 



altogether, and whatever is planted in it 

 will in all probability soon die ; for if no 

 moisture reaches the roots from the front, 

 they will have to extend 12 inches or 

 more to the back of the rock before they 

 obtain any. This is more than most are 

 capable of doing, certainly in the juvenile 

 stage, in which they must be planted. 



It is necessary to keep the rocks slightly 

 apart in order to give room for a good layer of 

 soil between them, and this should be done, 

 while building the rockwork, by inserting some 

 pieces of hard stone. The layer of soil should 

 be filled in before the upper rock is put in 

 position, so that no air space may be left, 

 which it may be found very difficult to avoid 

 later on. 



Vertical fissures should, when feasible, be 

 made wider at the top than the bottom, for 

 then, as the soil settles, its tendency will be to 

 compress itself against the sides of the rocks, 

 instead of leaving them, as would occur were 

 the shape reversed. Where the fissure is 

 sufficiently large, wedge-shaped pieces of stone 

 should be inserted, and care should be taken 



