Forming a Rockery 



stones set out at the most absurd angles, and wholly incap- 

 able of retaining soil between them, or perhaps they are 

 formed of fancy stones of all kinds which are not in their 

 nature suitable. It behoves us, however, to point out rather 

 how a good rockery should be made, and we will proceed 

 forthwith. Figs. 63 and 64 are given showing the faults 

 recently complained of. 



As in most operations connected with garden making, the 

 first essential is that the land be properly drained. In some 

 cases the nature of the soil does away with any work in this 



FIG. 63. Bad rock formation. 



Not enough soil. 



connection ; but when it is heavy it is better to drain it at 

 first than to suffer from the neglect later on, when it can 

 only be remedied at greater expense. To drain it, take out 

 the soil for a depth of quite eighteen inches, and put in 

 drain-pipes to carry the water away to the lowest point, 

 then lay in quite six inches of stones, brick rubble, &c., 

 putting the soil again on the top. Procure then the 

 necessary stones of all sizes and get them near at hand. 

 Stones sufficiently suitable for the purpose may usually be 

 procured locally. Igneous stones are not the best, for they 

 do not absorb and retain the moisture to the extent of a 



