100 



THE COMPLETE HOME LANDSCAPE 



S<2-ox,-i otx o/ T^ock. MooTxd - SJLoT\<z,skoalcl 



always tiildowrv <2^LtK<2' back tjocatcKraiix 



Fig. 90. — Cross section through a well prepared rockery or part of a rock garden 



in the crevices and pockets of the rocks where soil is deposited and 

 root hold can be found. In building a rock garden, natural conditions 

 must be duplicated as nearly as possible. 



The rock garden is the farthest extreme from the formal garden and 

 must be kept quite separate from that vicinity of the grounds unless 

 very effectively hidden. The ideal spot is a rugged, picturesque piece 

 of ground where the natural formation or deposit of rocks and boulders 

 suggests this treatment. Such a place should have no large trees ac- 

 tually on it, as the roots would impoverish the soil, but some shade 

 from the hot sun is desirable. A northern or northeasterly exposure 

 is perhaps best. The branches of any adjacent trees should not over- 

 hang the garden as the drip will rot the rock plants. 



PREPARATION 



When the site has been decided upon it should be dug deeply and 

 the soil enriched and lightened, if necessary, with grit and leafmold. 

 The soil that is to be used between the stones for the plants to grow 

 in, should be specially prepared. A mixture of light loam (four parts), 

 leafmold (two parts), road-grit, or crushed limestone rocks (one part), 

 and rotten manure (two parts) is most satisfactory (Fig. 90). 



