Special Features 2 1 1 



of admitting one person. These need not be of any uniform 

 width and should have no regular margin. They may be 

 made of some quiet-colored material, and not covered with 

 dressed gravel, the mere stones of which the rockery is com- 

 posed forming the best possible paths, if they are tolerably 

 flat. 



Any great elevation should never be sought in small rock- 

 eries. This would both be inconsistent with their breadth 

 and would render them too prominent and artificial. They 

 should not be carried higher than the point at which they 

 can be well supported and backed with a broad mass of earth 

 and vegetation. Additional height may sometimes be given, 

 if desired, by excavating into a hollow the base from which 

 they spring. An old quarry will supply the foundation of 

 an excellent rockery, in which considerable height, relatively 

 to the bottom, may be attained, and much of boldness. It 

 should be seen, however, that in working it, masses of rock 

 be merely wrenched or blasted off, in the most irregular 

 manner, and no sawing or cutting to an even face be any- 

 where permitted. Extreme ruggedness of surface is what 

 would be most characteristic in such a situation. 



No collection of rocks should ever begin or end abruptly, 

 but should gradually die away into the adjoining ground 

 by means of a few carelessly scattered groups or single masses 

 of stone. Attention to this point will mark the diliference 

 between the practiced and the unobservant artist and will 

 exercise a great influence over the whole composition. 



Shrubs with trailing habits, evergreens, and a few of the 

 less delicately branched weeping kinds, and those which 

 assume a wild, ragged, and picturesque character, are most 

 congenial to rockeries. The first class, especially, includ- 

 ing the ivy, the Cotoneaster microphylla, Berberis empetri- 

 folia, periwinkles, heaths, etc., always seem in place and 



