144 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



rockwork be on a large scale deep chasms should be 

 managed, for the reception of larger vegetation and 

 small trees, and to give repose in masses of shadow. 

 When the arrangement of the stones pleases, fill up 

 between with rough mortar, except in the case of the 

 interstices or pockets, which are wanted for planting, 

 mix Roman cement to the consistence of thick paint, 

 taking care to mix only a little at a time that it may not 

 set more quickly than it can he used, and, by means of 

 a large painter's brush, cover the surface of the rock- 

 work with it. This will join all into one mass. 



In planting the rockwork care must be taken to put 

 in with each root the earth in which it is most likely 

 to do well, and be liberal with moss on every bit of 

 surface that can be covered with it, as it is valuable in 

 retaining moisture. Plants especially adapted for rock- 

 work may be bought in almost endless variety, and seed 

 of many kinds can be had. The greater variety there 

 can be in the plants, in the colours of the flowers and 

 the character of the green the better, and there are many 

 wild plants that tell well. Our English ferns in endless 

 variation, and the hardy exotic ferns, form host enough, 

 almost unaided, for a whole garden of rockwork. In 

 dry summer weather ferns require frequent watering ; 

 and if the moss on the surface round the roots die, it 

 may be covered with fresh without removing the old. 

 When the fronds become dry do not remove them until 

 the spring, when the young ones begin to shoot. The 

 great variety which there is in the situations that different 

 ferns occupy naturally, must be considered when they are 

 planted. Some grow on high and exposed rocks, some 

 in moist boggy ground, others in banks, under hedges, 

 or in woods, while some thrive within the influence of 

 the spray of a waterfall. Where trees and water are 

 mingled with the rockwork, the habits of all kinds may 

 be humoured by a little contrivance. 



Nothing tends more to the varied beauty of a scene 

 than water. To make the most of the limpid element 

 in pond, rivulet, waterfall fountain, basin, and every 

 other form in which it is pressed into the service of man 



