24 



more productive, and greatly exempt from casual! ties of climate and 

 locality. In the growth of all kind ot small fruits as well as those of 

 larger orchard growth, shelter is always of the greatest benefit. Many 

 of the diseases of our fruit trees and imperfections in tbe products 

 can be effaced by sheltering hedges and plantations, facts that are now 

 being fully appreciated by fruit-growers. 



In grounds of very limited dimensions, where the boundary lines are 

 at no great distance from the house, an evergreen hedge set inside the 

 fence will afford great relief to the eye and form a background, as it 

 were, to the shrubbery and flower borders. The stiff line of the hedge 

 can be modified in appearance by planting small diversified groups of 

 shrubs or low-growing evergreens along its front. A continuous border 

 varying in width and curving outline, running a direction parallel with 

 the hedge, and thickly planted with flowering shrubs of variety, inter- 

 spersed with such flowering herbaceous perennials as hollyhocks, 

 phloxes, chrysanthemums, delphiuums, etc., is one of the best modes 

 of treating a small pleasure garden and lawn. 



ROCKERIES. 



A rockery properly located and tastefully arranged is capable of 

 affording much of interest and pleasure to those who can appreciate 

 the beauties of nature. It is not advised to attempt the imitation of 

 rocky scenery, which can rarely be successfully accomplished, even with 

 the command of unlimited means. Abortions of this kind, where the 

 means have been made more conspicuous than the end, have tended to 

 discard rockeries from situations where they would be highly prized, 

 were their real purpose fully understood. 



The simplest form of rockwork may be described as a mound of soil 

 covered with stones ; and its purpose that of securing conditions for 

 culture of the native plants of our woods and dells, as mosses, ferns, 

 and others of similar habits, which will not flourish in the ordinary 

 borders or bed.s of the flower garden, where they are too much exposed 

 to sultry suns and drying winds. 



A secluded spot or corner of the pleasure grounds shaded by trees, 

 but not directly under them, is the position for a rockwork of the kind 

 in question. Here, concealed from all points by an inclosure of shrub- 

 bery, or by an evergreen hedge, and approached by a rustic pathway 

 through a leafy thicket, the rockery may be located, without any vio- 

 lation of good taste or interference with other and more ambitious dee- 

 orations. 



A basin to contain water may be cheaply constructed of brick and 

 cement, and will add very much to the variety of the plants that may 

 be grown. Shade and humidity, which are essential to the growth of 

 many woodland plants, such as the sarracenias or pitcher plants, and 

 also a constant evaporation during dry periods will enable these and 



