66 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



sign round, square, triangular, or any particular 

 shape, but as irregular as possible, just as though 

 it happened to be where you wanted it. Let the stones 

 touch each other and put your plants just back of 

 the place where two stones meet. 



Now fill up the inside or core with soil until it is 

 level with the top of the rockwork, and do this with 

 each tier of stones as you build up. In placing the 

 second and subsequent tiers, draw each one in slight- 

 ly, yet not too evenly, neither too fast, or your rock- 

 ery will be finished too soon and also be too flat and 

 smooth. Be careful that the shape is not too regular 

 as you go up, but have it full of little canyons and 

 mesas with the top as irregular as possible. Also 

 allow some of the roughest and most picturesque 

 rocks to stand out boldly above the rest. 



Be sure to keep the soil well watered all the time 

 you are at the job, for it is a very difficult matter 

 to get it wet all through when finished in case it be- 

 comes dry during construction. Soil for such work 

 should be of a light and porous nature, very friable, 

 yet without much sand, as sand washes away too 

 easily. Better have plenty of leaf mold if obtainable, 

 for it contains plant food agreeable to all vegetable 

 life. If you have a large place and can get plenty of 

 rocks the effect will be greatly improved by the free 

 use of dwarf or prostrate-growing shrubs. 



WHERE TO BUILD 



A rockery properly located and tastefully arranged 

 is capable of affording much interest and pleasure 

 to those who can appreciate the beauties of nature. 

 The simplest form of rockwork may be described as 

 an irregular mound of soil covered with stones, and 

 a secluded spot or corner of the pleasure grounds, 

 shaded by trees, but not necessarily directly under 



