Embellishments 11/5 



meanders along beneath the shadow of tufts of clustering 

 foliage of the pleasure ground or park, a rustic bridge may 

 be brought in with the happiest effect. 



Rockwork is another kind of decoration sometimes intro- 

 duced in particular portions of the scenery of a residence. 

 When well executed, that is, so as to have a natural and 

 harmonious expression, the effect is highly pleasing. We 

 have seen, however, in places where a high keeping and 

 good taste otherwise prevailed, such a barbarous melange, 

 or confused pile of stones mingled with soil, and planted 

 over with dwarfish plants dignified with the name of rock- 

 work, that we have been led to believe that it is much 

 better to attempt nothing of the kind, unless there is a 

 suitable place for its display, and at the same time, the 

 person attempting it is sufficiently an artist, imbued with 

 the spirit of nature in her various compositions and com- 

 binations, to be able to produce something higher than a 

 caricature of her works. 



The object of rockwork is to produce in scenery or por- 

 tions of a scene, naturally in a great measure destitute of 

 groups of rocks and their accompanying drapery of plants 

 and foliage, something of the picturesque effect which such 

 natural assemblages confer. To succeed in this, it is evi- 

 dent that we must not heap up little hillocks of mould and 

 smooth stones, in the midst of an open lawn, or the center 

 of a flower-garden. But if we can make choice of a situa- 

 tion where a rocky bank or knoll already partially exists, 

 or would be in keeping with the form of the ground and 

 the character of the scene, then we may introduce such 

 accompaniments with the best possible hope of success. 



It often happens in a place of considerable extent, that 

 somewhere in conducting the walks through the grounds, 

 we meet with a ridge with a small rocky face, or perhaps 

 \\ith a large rugged single rock, or a bank where rocky 

 summits just protrude themselves through the surface. The 

 common feeling against such uncouth objects, would direct 

 them to be cleared away at once out of sight. But let us 

 take the case of the large rugged rock, and commence our 



