CHAPTER XVII 

 SHRUBS IN THE ROCK GARDEN 



THERE is probably no aspect of rock-garden 

 equipment requiring greater consideration from 

 the gardener than this, and none to which the usual 

 run of text-book recommendations apply with less 

 force or directness. The inclusion of shrubs, chiefly 

 of the coniferous order, may be desirable enough, or 

 even essential, but to what extent they may be em- 

 ployed will, of necessity, depend upon the size or limi- 

 tations of the rock garden itself, and not a little also 

 upon the nature of its surroundings. In no circum- 

 stance, however, should shrubs play a conspicuous 

 part. Much less should they appear in columnar form 

 at regular intervals, an offence to the eye, and an evi- 

 dence of the bad taste of the operator. In a word the 

 shrub of columnar outline should find no place in our 

 rock garden, since it will not merely rob the soil in its 

 vicinity, but will ruin the soil quite near by reason of 

 the unparalleled dryness which would prevail. Hence 

 we require none of these. What we might tolerate, 

 and what also would be capable of doing good service 

 whilst imparting diversity or affording character to 

 the whole, are the dwarf, compact or pigmy growing 

 forms of such shrubs, of which a few are of consider- 

 able importance. Golden-leaved or variegated sub- 

 jects should never be used ; their sickly presence is not 

 required. Occasional examples of Yucca, as recurva, 

 angustifolia and filamentosa, behind or at the summit 

 of a rock ; or a drooping or bush-formed Cotoneaster 

 or Berberis might each do good service, while in cer- 

 tain circumstances a dwarf tree Ivy would not be out 



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