FE1JNS ON THE LAWN. 



to build a rockery so that provision might be made 

 for drainage. If the ground should be paved or 

 flagged the surface stones must be taken away, 

 the earth or gravel underneath loosened by spade 

 or pickaxe, and some Fern soil thrown down. 

 Then upon this substratum must be placed some 

 rough-hewn blocks of stone, filling in on the top 

 with soil firmly pressed down. Then more blocks, 

 but of smaller size, Fern soil once more on these, 

 and so on by gradation until a rockery has been 

 built up. Where necessary, cement may be used 

 to give firmness and stability to the structure, but 

 most frequently the weight of the stones used, if 

 they are skilfully adjusted in their places and 

 suitably selected, will suffice to keep them firmly in 

 place. 



Should a house face south, and possess a lawn 

 at its rear with space enough for a summer-house, 

 the accompanying illustration (page 174) will show 

 how on two sides of the summer-house shady 

 corners will be made, inviting the Fern-lover to fill 

 them with rockery for Ferns. How often we find 

 that such corners are left entirely unoccupied ! 

 Yet do we not see how much the surroundings of 



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