A Picturesque Rock 



has the merit of age at the outset, and for the smaller 

 type of rock garden is certainly one of the most 

 desirable. 



The Parbeok Limestone. — Quite one of the finest 

 types of limestone is that known as the Purbeck, found 

 in the neighbourhood of Swanage. This, in its selected 

 form, is ideally beautiful and picturesque. In associa- 

 tion with water it is surpassed by none and equalled by 

 few. Moreover, it is available in large or small blocks, 

 possesses a well-defined stratification (Fig. 3), and, 

 above all, is entirely sympathetic to plant life. It 

 appeals to me personally by reason of its rich marl- 

 brown colour, and colour is not to be ignored in such 

 work. In this respect, the Purbeck limestone and the 

 great oolite of the Cotswolds have much in common, 

 and both are excellent for the rock-garden builder. 

 From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that lime- 

 stone rocks are available in one form or another in 

 many parts of the country, hence the best advice that 

 can be given in such circumstances is to make use of 

 those nearest to hand. 



Sandstone Rocks. — While the best limestones are 

 placed in the forefront so far as general utility is con- 

 cerned — and none who have had experience with the 

 varied classes of rock in relation to alpine culture 

 would care to deny their right of place — the best sand- 

 stones may safely be placed a good second. These, like 

 the first named, are of a porous or more or less 

 absorbent nature, an attribute of the highest impor- 

 tance to the plants one has in mind. In like manner, 

 too, they are widely distributed and greatly varied — 

 Kent and Surrey, Cheshire and Worcester, Sussex and 

 Warwick having, among others, their quota. Some 

 sandstones, too, possess the attributes of boldness and 

 ruggedness, are of good colour, and weather well. 

 Others less good in these respects, and of a pale-yellow 

 cheese-Uke colour, detract considerably at first from 

 the arrangement and the plants, and attract much atten- 

 tion to themselves, which is not to be desired. Others, 



