VII.— ROCK-MANTLING SUBJECTS 



In rock gardens of any pretensions the need for 

 some of these will ever arise; now as a means of 

 effacing more or less obtrusive rock or of supplying 

 garniture of the best; anon of introducing vegetable 

 life in such divers forms that the beauty of the whole 

 is enhanced. In each direction the rock-mantling 

 subject might play a useful part; simple enough 

 when, as a conception of the original rock-builder, 

 rocks are purposely placed to receive such plants, 

 though more difficult when, as a result of after- 

 thought, their introduction becomes somewhat of a 

 necessity in order to screen rock of too aggressive a 

 nature or minimise some of the fundamental errors 

 of construction. Flat and broad slabs upended in 

 meaningless, useless fashion, and rocks of the mile- 

 stone order, are not unknown. To remove them 

 altogether would probably upset much other well- 

 positioned plant life or be impracticable. Hence the 

 only course open is to endeavour to remedy the 

 errors so far as is possible. They occur most fre- 

 quently as the result of amateurish work, or in that 

 arranged with but little thought. Happily, however, 

 there is ample material and of the right sort suitable 

 alike for large and small erections. How certain 

 plants associate themselves with rock regardless of 

 position is a matter of frequent comment. Cotoneas- 

 ters microphylla, adpressa, and rupestris will ascend 

 or descend a rock ; so, too, the Arenarias among other 

 plants. The prostrate Rosemary, subulata Phloxes, 

 Herniaria, Paronychia, Veronicas like rupestris and 

 prostrata, incline to drape the rocks, while all in turn 

 afford beauty of a rather diverse order. Saponaria 

 ocymoides will readily stream down a rocky way for 



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