30 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



made, with at least as much care as has been shown in manag- 

 ing the Calclolaria, or the Pansy, we must be permitted to say 

 that our ancient friends are unfairly treated, and that we are 

 doing ourselves much disservice." 



We shall be told that experiments of the class suggested are 

 hopeless. We believe them to be likely to lead to highly im- 

 portant consequences, expecially in those cases where the result 

 of success would be to improve a perennial by the aid of an 

 annual ; -a very material consideration. 



Plants should be chosen that will give a succession of flowers 

 from the early part of the spring till the winter closes the flow- 

 ering season. In this work we hope we have so described the 

 various plants, that almost any person of taste may be enabled 

 to select such as may be deemed proper to effect this object. 

 Those persons who can, conveniently, visit nurseries arid gar- 

 dens during the season, will select more accurately by noticing 

 the plants when in bloom, as their true character and portrait 

 can be seen, and appreciated, far better than from any descrip- 

 tion that can be given. 



ROCK-WORK. 



There are many plants that succeed best when planted 

 among rocks ; and, for their accommodation and to show off 

 their beauties to the greatest advantage, it is common in many 

 gardens, to have an appendage, called a rockery. This is made 

 of a collection of stones, in the rough or natural state, laid up 

 without much order, with soil, which should be concealed as 

 much as possible by the fragments of rock. As many of the 

 plants succeed best in the shade, a portion of the rock-work 

 should be partly surrounded with trees or shrubs, that they 

 may derive that advantage. Trilliums, Orchis, Cyprepediums, 

 and some few ferns, and a great variety of native plants 

 which are found in our woods, with an appropriate soil, would 

 flourish well in such a spot. The rockery should be partly, or 

 wholly, concealed from the general flower-garden by shrubs or 

 trees. It may be approached from the main walk under a 



