ON THE CULTURE OF ALPINE OR ROCK PLANTS. 279 



sary, that the site be neither shaded, nor yet too much exposed. Let 

 it be an open, airy, but, at the same time, a sheltered place. It may 

 adjoin the flower-garden, or be in the vicinity of the shrubberies and 

 kitchen-garden, and should a suitable situation present itself along 

 the walks or drives leading through the woods or pleasure-grounds, 

 it might form as desirable a site as any. It is, however, to be under- 

 stood, that it is not meant to be exactly along the margin. A little 

 off the walk would be more desirable, with a path leading to the 

 Rockery. 



" Perhaps too much attention cannot be paid to the choice of a proper 

 situation ; for though these plants are natives of high bleak localities, 

 where they enjoy the purest atmosphere ; and though in their native 

 habitats, they endure a great degree of cold, still, when introduced 

 into our gardens, and planted upon a Rockery, many of them will 

 neither stand the winter frosts, nor yet bear the strong and sharp 

 gusts of wind. The former, alternating with mild weather, keep a 

 degree of vitality in their system, which they do not experience in 

 their Alpine abodes, and thus they are more exposed to injuries from 

 the latter. 



" The Rockery. — In the formation of the Rockery, there are other 

 objects to be attained besides the imitation of nature. The rock- 

 work must be so constructed as to insure the preservation and suc- 

 cessful growth of the plants. It may be made any size the projector 

 chooses, and various forms may be adopted and indulged in ; but the 

 plainer these are the better. And it should always be kept in view, 

 to make it of the most fanciful structure, so as to show off the different 

 kinds of plants, by which means it has the most effective display and 

 appearance. 



" There is no great difficulty, nor need any great expense be incurred 

 in the formation of the Rockery, when the locality is near the sea-shore, 

 as abundance of materials for this purpose are quite at hand, such as 

 stones worn into different shapes by the waves, and some containing 

 cavities, the use intended for which will be described hereafter. 



" In making up the Rockery, the space it is to occupy in the first 

 place, must be cleared of any rubbish thereon, the ground then 

 levelled, and the ground figure properly marked out. Then the earth 

 taken out of the pond may be laid down where marked ; but should 

 this soil not be of a kindly nature for the plants, that is, should it be 



