102 



THE COMPLETE HOME LANDSCAPE 



Fig. 92.— An overhanging rock is an interesting feature 



in a rock garden. This cross section shows how it 



should be built up 



feet can be imitated by 

 arranging smaller pieces 

 of rock at the foot of a 

 sloping rock ledge to give 

 the effect of naturalness. 

 Needless to say, the color 

 and general formation of 

 the small rocks must be 

 quite similar to those of 

 the ledge. 



Where the igneous or 

 non-stratified stone is 

 used, the operation is 

 really not difficult, but just as pleasing when well done. There is a 

 natural formation called Tufa stone, apparently the work of some sub- 

 terranean agency, which, being full of holes (resembling a sponge) is 

 particularly adapted for rock garden building on a small scale. This 

 stone is extremely porous and irregular, having natural pockets that 

 are ideal for planting. 



BUILDING 



The largest stones should be placed at the base and form the 

 background; in their arrangement they should suggest the original 

 cause of their exposure — namely, upheaval, or glacial deposit. 



The face of the rockery may, in the same garden, range from a 

 gentle slope to almost perpendicular; in some instances, more par- 

 ticularly in large gardens, the overhanging rock is very effective. 

 The construction of this type is best explained by an illustration (See 

 Fig. 92). It will be seen that each stone is effectively tied to the others 

 and all appear inherent in the soil. 



Each stone should slope backward, so that the water will run 

 in toward the rockery and soak the soil between the rocks. As each 

 stone is laid, ram the prepared soil in every crevice and pocket so 

 that not the smallest air hole is left. This is possible only by building, 

 stone by stone, and by working the soil into the crevices with a stick. 



It is most important that the soil between the stones be kept moist, 

 so in the event of a stone overlapping a pocket see that the rain will 

 in some way be drawn into the latter. Any settling of the stones will 

 not affect their stability if they have been laid correctly. 



The rockery is best built by sections. First, arrange a group of 

 various sized stones — really a miniature rock garden — then start on 



