PART I.] CULTURAL 81 



care is taken to make the interior of the cemented masses of deep 

 beds of earth, leaving holes here and there in the face of the 

 structure, from which plants can peep forth, while the top is 

 left open, and may he planted with shrubs or trees, but the 

 stony mound, free in every pore, or constructed of separate 

 pieces of stone, is infinitely the best for the flora of the rocks. 

 The plants that thrive on walls, and send their roots far 

 into their crevices, cannot get the slightest footing on these 

 large masses coated with cement ; and little plants stuck 

 in the "pockets," which the constructors leave here and 

 there on the face of the edifice, rarely thrive or look happy. 

 They should never be placed in such positions, and the rock- 

 gardens of natural stone should be preferred at any sacrifice. 

 Where, however, natural stone cannot be obtained, the cemented 

 work may be used, and in positions where only the picturesque 

 effect of rocks is sought. In places where it already exists, 

 some improvement may be effected by banks of true alpine 

 garden in open spots near, covering the artificial rock gracefully 

 with low shrubs and hardy climbers, and coniferse like 

 the Swiss Pine, and Mountain Pine, and the Junipers. 



Rocky Bank at Oak Lodge. 



THE SMALL ROCK-GARDEN. 



One of the simplest ways of enjoying alpine plants is in 

 small rocky beds, arranged on the turf of some parts of the 

 garden, cut off by trees or shrubs from the ordinary flower- 



