

1 



THE BEST STONES AND SOIL. 83 



Good gardening may be expected in districts where 

 sandstone is abundant. Sandstone may be said to be 

 compacted s and, and quartz is the principal ingredient. 

 It is enormously hard, and is therefore not crumbled 

 by frost Hke limestone. Iliejdiite--'^ftd:-- y ello j>y ; ^ djxd;^- 

 stones are^.-the--h<krd«st. In fact some of them are 

 usemor grinding-stones and firestones. The porous 

 sandstone of Devonshire and the old red sandstone 

 of Herefordshire are good garden stones. Reddish 

 ferruginous sandstone may always be bought with 

 confidence if the opportunity of acquiring it occurs. 

 It has an excellent appearance, is durable, and suits 

 almost all kinds of plants remarkably well. It is often 

 purchasable in flattish, smooth-edged pieces, and in 

 such a form presents almost ideal material for rockery 

 making. Gray argillaceous or calcareous sandstone 

 is neither so hard nor so pleasing in appearance as 

 red stone, but it is quite suitable and it is particularly 

 useful for some classes of rockwork, as it comes in 

 flattish slabs. 



What is known as " Derbyshire stone " among /v,^U<3^^^ 

 many hardy plantsmen is a carb oniferou s jimestone. - ^^^.^ 

 and it is in every way admirableTor rockeries. While 

 less durable than sandstone it is relatively hard, and 

 most plants Hke it. Those who live in or near districts 

 where this stone is quarried should never look beyond 

 it, as it will not only serve their purpose admirably, 

 but may be bought cheaply. It is only when it has 

 to be transported to a considerable distance that the 

 cost becomes serious. The question of freight is, 

 indeed, the vital matter in connection with rockwork. 



