48 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Garden continued. 



in hardy plants for the general beauty and floral dis- 

 play presented by such a large proportion of their num- 

 ber, to completely ignore an objection like this. The 

 Perennial Garden or mixed border should be of con- 

 siderable width, to admit of tall-growing subjects being 

 included; and if a background can be obtained of high 

 Bhododendrons. or other evergreens that shelter without 

 causing too much shade, the cultivated plants will be 

 benefited, and, when in flower, will be seen to the best 

 advantage. In Fig. 76 is represented a summer view 

 of an existing garden, a little less than an acre in 

 extent, devoted chiefly to the cultivation of hardy pe- 

 rennial and alpine plants. Sufficient space is here found 



FIG. 76. HARDY PERENNIAL AND ALPINE GARDEN. 



for upwards of 2000 species and varieties, and all suc- 

 ceed more or less under unfavourable atmospheric con- 

 ditions. 



Rock Garden. Where numerous hardy alpine and 

 herbaceous plants are cultivated, a Bock Garden, greater 

 or less in extent, is the most suitable place for their ac- 

 commodation. Many of the best and rarest species will 

 not succeed so well elsewhere as they do amongst the 

 crevices on an elevated piece of rockwork, which, in 

 addition, affords a situation for an endless variety of 

 hardy and half-hardy plants. There are few Gardens 

 in which something of the sort might not be con- 

 structed and rendered attractive, especially in localities 

 where stones are plentiful. After being once planted, 

 the requisite care in after treatment is but nominal. 



Garden continued. 



compared with the additional interest thereby secured, 

 particularly when only a select class of plants is 

 allowed, and these are appropriately placed, according 

 to their height or special cultural requirements. At- 

 tempts are sometimes made, in a Bock Garden of an 

 extensive description, to imitate, so far as practicable, 

 the work of Nature in the arrangement of the stones 

 employed. This has often to be conducted partially al 

 the expense of providing adequate means for the well- 

 being of the plants, which should be the main considera- 

 tion. Where space and material are unlimited, excel- 

 lent results may be attained ; but in a confined area, 

 the effect produced in many cases only shows the insig- 

 nificance of the work in comparison with that of Nature. 

 Rockwork may be introduced for various reasons, apart 

 from the culture of alpines, such as hiding an unsightly 

 wall or other objects of limited height, or for giving a 

 diversity to an otherwise flat and uninteresting scene. 

 A Eock Garden may be successfully formed where the 

 surface is generally flat, by digging a deep cutting of 

 an irregular outline through a piece of ground, and 

 utilising the soil thus obtained as mounds of uneven 

 heights along the upper part on either side, whereon 

 trees and evergreen shrubs may be planted as a back- 

 ground and for affording shelter. The stones should 

 be arranged to form cavities of an irregular size and 

 shape, for the accommodation of various plants, from the 

 sides of a walk made in the centre of the cutting, up 

 the gradual slope formed by the soil, until the shrubs in 

 the background are reached. It does not so much matter 

 what the quality of the soil is underneath, providing it is 

 porous enough to insure drainage, as additional new soil 

 should be given each plant when inserting it. Formality 

 must be avoided as much as possible in the arrange- 

 ment, and the stones should be deeply embedded, in order 

 to hold them firmly. Various aspects are desirable to 

 suit different plants, and these should be readily secured 

 in a Eock Garden by the irregular shape the latter should 

 assume in construction. Artificial masses of rockwork, 

 for ornamental effect, are sometimes introduced into the 

 slopes of hills adjoining a mansion ; and, if properly 

 executed, they present quite a natural and fine appear- 

 ance. The extent of, and position for, a Eock Garden 

 must depend on the surroundings, and on the amount of 

 space and number of plants at command. If arranged 

 on a mound in the open, the slope should be very gradual : 

 and a good proportion of shrubs should be introduced 

 near the top. Dwarf-growing shrubs, Yuccas, and other 

 subjects of an evergreen character, are always accept- 

 able for their attractiveness in winter when the primary 

 alpine and herbaceous occupants are resting. Care should 

 be taken not to over-fill the cavities with soil, so as to 

 bury the stones ; and the surface of each, when planting, 

 should be left somewhat flat, in order that rain and 

 other water may enter the ground instead of running off. 

 Considerable experience is necessary for the proper con- 

 struction of a Eock Garden on a large scale, and a know- 

 ledge of the various habits of hardy plants is requisite 

 before their positions for planting can be appropriately 

 fixed. A quantity of loam and leaf soil, with some small 

 pieces of granite or other stone, should be mixed before- 

 hand, and a portion placed round each plant, the addi- 

 tion of peat being made in the case of those requiring 

 it. Eockeries usually improve in appearance with age. 

 and when the plants have had time to develop and fill 

 their allotted space. Other plants may be continually 

 introduced, and improvements effected, where the ar- 

 rangement of those first selected proves in any degree 

 unsatisfactory. Annual top-dressings of new soil should 

 be given to such as do not appear to succeed; and a 

 plentiful supply of water in summer is requisite, almost 

 without exception, for all. 



Wild Garden. Of recent years, the naturalisation 



