Embellishments 1 !." 



If a few of the rocks to be employed in the rockwork are 

 sunk half or three-fourths their depth in the soil near the 

 site of the proposed rockwork, so as to have the appear- 

 ance of a rocky ridge just cropping out, as the geologists 

 say, then the rockwork will, to the eye of a spectator, seem 

 to be connected with, and growing out of this rocky spur 

 or ridge below: or, in other words, there will be an obvious 

 reason for its being situated there, instead of its presenting 

 aYsvholly artificial appearance. 



In a previous page, when treating of the banks of pieces 

 of water formed by art, we endeavored to show how the 

 natural appearance of such banks would be improved by 

 the judicious introduction of rocks partially imbedded into 

 and holding them up. Such situations, in the case of a 

 small lake or pond, or a brook, are admirable sites for rock- 

 work. Where the materials of a suitable kind are abun- 

 dant, and tasteful ingenuity is not wanting, surprising 

 effects may be produced in a small space. Caves and 

 grottoes, where ferns and mosses would thrive admirably 

 with the gentle drip from the roof, might be made of the 

 overarching rocks arranged so as to appear like small nat- 

 ural caverns. Let the exterior be partially planted with 

 low shrubs and climbing plants, as the wild clematis, and 

 the effect of such bits of landscape could not but be agreeable 

 in secluded portions of the grounds. 



In many parts of the country, the secondary blue lime- 

 stone abounds, which, in the small masses found loose in 

 the woods, covered with mosses and ferns, affords the very 

 finest material for artificial rockwork. 



After all, much the safest way is never to introduce 

 rockwork of any description, unless we feel certain that it 

 will have a good effect. When a place is naturally pic- 

 turesque, and abounds here and there with rocky banks, 

 etc., little should be done but to heighten and aid the 

 expressions of these, if they are wanting in spirit, by adding 

 something more: or softening and giving elegance to the 

 expression, if too wild, by planting the same with beautiful 

 shrubs and climbers. On a tame sandv level, where rocks 



