i8o Xanbscape Hrcbitecture 



fits the scheme of treatment suitable for your wall. 

 The proportions of the wall are also a consideration of 

 great importance. Whether the wall should be three 

 feet high or four feet or a mere border of a few inches or 

 a foot, depends naturally on existing conditions, but 

 there should always be plenty of proportionate thick- 

 ness and something of a batter, that is a narrower top 

 than base, and always at intervals wide stones running 

 through the wall and tying the mass together. The 

 coping should be equally proportionate and lie com- 

 paratively level or sloping regularly down. Stepping 

 down with the coping at intervals should be avoided 

 if possible. It is not natural looking. 



The construction of the cave and rough stone arch- 

 way in the Ramble in Central Park forms one of the best 

 examples of rock work to be found anywhere. Two 

 enormous masses of rock near each other, with recesses 

 forming a cave, were bridged over with large masses of 

 stones laid so as to make rough parapet walls and rough 

 stone side pieces, and then sloping off in two directions 

 are steep banks bordering the path and planted with 

 masses of rock and vines and shrubbery. The rocky 

 incident originally existed, but its essential nature was 

 seized and improved on right lines. 



Many are the forms which rock w^ork may assume, 

 besides a wall. There are steps, caves in hillsides, 

 bridges, and even houses, and very often there are rocks 

 to be discovered in the neighbourhood whose beauty 

 can be enhanced by locating other and smaller stones in 

 their neighbourhood and ornamenting the entire mass 



