EMBELLISHMENTS. 



391 



^Vf^;^ 



[Pig. 66. Rockwork.] 



good taste otherwise prevailed, such a barbarous melange^ or 

 confused pile of stones mingled with soil, and planted over 

 with dwarfish plants dignified with the name of rockwork, 

 that we have been led to believe that it is much better to at- 

 tempt nothing of the kind, unless there is a suitable place for 

 its display, and at the same time, the person attempting it is 

 sufiiciently an artist, imbued with the spirit of nature in her 

 various compositions and combinations, to be able to produce 

 something higher than a caricature of her works. 



The object of rockwork is to produce in scenery or por- 

 tions of a scene, naturally, or in a great measure, destitute of 

 groups of rocks and their accompanying drapery of plants 

 and foliage, something of the picturesque effect which such 

 natural assemblages confer. To succeed in this, it is evident 

 that we must not heap up little hillocks of mould and smooth 

 stones, in the midst of an open lawn, or the centre of a flower- 

 garden. But if we can make choice of a situation where a 

 rocky bank or knoll already partially exists, or would be in 

 keeping with the form of the ground and the character 

 of the scene, then we may introduce such accompaniments 

 with the best possible hope of success. 



