RI V 



506 



ROC 



RIVINA. Seven species. Stove 

 evergreen shrubs. Seeds or cuttings. 

 Light soil. 



ROBINIA. Seven species and many 

 varieties. All hardy deciduous trees, 

 except R. guineensis and 11. purpwea, 

 which are stove evergreens. Increased 

 by young cuttings. Loam, sand, and 

 peat. The hardy kinds are increased 

 by layers or grafts, and require only 

 common soil. 



ROCAMBOLE. Allium Scorodo- 

 prasuiii. Sometimes called Spanish 

 Gallic, has its bulbs or cloves growing 

 in a cluster. The stem bears many 

 bulbs at its summit, which as well as 

 those of the root are often preferred in 

 cooking to garlic, being of much milder 

 flavour. 



Time of Insertion. — It is best propa- 

 gated by the root bulbs, those of the 

 stem being slower in production. The 

 plantation may be made either in Feb- 

 ruary, March, or early part of April, 

 as well as throughout the autumn, in 

 drills or by the dibble, in rows six 

 inches apart each way, and usually 

 two inches within the ground ; though 

 the plants would thrive better if grown 

 on the surface as recommended for 

 the shalot. In other respects they are 

 cultivated as directed for Garlic. A 

 very small bed is sufficient for the sup- 

 ply of the largest family. 



ROCHEA. Three species. Green- 

 house evergreen shrubs. Partly dried 

 cuttings. Sandy loam, peat, and brick 

 rubbish. 



ROCKET. Hesperis. 

 ROCK ROSE. Cisttis and Convolvu- 

 lus Dorycnium. 



ROCK-WORK. " Mere rocks, un- 

 less they are peculiarly adapted to cer- 

 tain impressions, may surprise, but 

 can hardly please; they are too far 

 removed from common life, too barren 

 and inhospitable, rather desolate than 

 solitary, and more horrid than terrible. 

 So austere a character cannot be long 

 engaging if its rigour be not softened 

 by circumstances, which may belong 

 either to these or to more cultivated 

 spots; and when the dreariness is ex- 

 treme, little streams and waterfalls are 

 of themselves insufficient for the pur- 

 pose : an intermixture of vegetation is 

 also necessary, and, on some occa- 

 sions, even marks of inhabitants are 



prop 



" If such a scene occurs within the 



precincts of a park or a garden, no ex- 

 pense should he spared to meliorate 

 the soil, wherever any soil can be 

 found. Without some vegetation 

 among the rocks, they are only an 

 object of curiosity or a subject of won- 

 der ; but verdure alone will give some 

 relief to the dreariness of the scene, 

 and shrubs or bushes, without trees, 

 are a sufficiency of wood. The thickets 

 may also be extended by the creeping 

 plants — such as pyracantha, vines, and 

 ivy — to wind up the sides, or cluster on 

 the tops of the rocks; and to this vege- 

 tation may be added some symptoms of 

 inhabitants, but they must be slight and 

 few : the use of them is only to cheer, 

 not to destroy the solitude of the place; 

 and such therefore should be chosen as 

 are sometimes found in situations re- 

 tired from public resort. A cottage 

 may be lonely, but it must not here 

 seem ruinous and neglected ; it should 

 be tight and warm, with every mark of 

 comfort about it, to which its position 

 in some sheltered recess may greatly 

 contribute. A cavity also in the rocks 

 rendered easy of access, improved to a 

 degree of convenience, and maintained 

 in a certain state of preservation, will 

 suggest similar ideas of protection from 

 the bitterest inclemencies of the sky, 

 and even of occasional refreshment and 

 repose. But vve may venture still fur- 

 ther. A mill is of necessity often built 

 at some distance from the town it sup- 

 plies ; and here it would at the same 

 time apply the water to a use, and in- 

 crease its agitation. The dale may, 

 besides, be made the haunt of those 

 animals — such as goats — which are 

 sometimes wild and sometimes domes- 

 tic, and which, accidentally appearing, 

 will divert the mind from the sensa- 

 tions natural to the scene, but not 

 agreeable if continued longer without 

 interruption. 



" These, and such other expedients, 

 will approximate the severest retreat 

 to the habitations of men, and convert 

 the appearance of a perpetual banish- 

 ment into that of a temporary retire- 

 ment from society. 



" When rocks retire from the eye 

 down a gradual declivity, we can, 

 by raising the upper ground, deepen 

 the fall, lengthen the perspective, and 

 give both height and extent to those at 

 a distance. This effect may be still 

 increased by covering this upper 



