ROCKWORK FOR FERNS 49 



spruces make an artistic background and 

 soften the abrupt transition from smooth 

 lawn to ragged rocks. The colour effect 

 of rock and fern against a screen of Virginia 

 creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia) is par- 

 ticularly fine, and within the reach of all. 



THE BEST KIND OF ROCK 



In the selection of rocks most people have 

 to take what they can get; but, given a choice, 

 sandstone and calcareous rocks are the most 

 desirable. Much of the so-called artificial 

 rockwork is composed of tufa, a soft, porous 

 volcanic stone of light weight. 



Nothing, however, can surpass the pic- 

 turesque quality of a bit of old limestone in 

 process of decay. Freshly quarried stones 

 of any kind should never be used; the more 

 rugged and weather-beaten they are the 

 better for the place assigned. 



Now and then one sees a giant pebble or 

 cobblestone landed high and dry on a sunny 

 lawn; just a bald, impenetrable, inorganic 



