ROCK, ALPINE, FEKS, AND WILD GARDENING. 



lOd 



passing through or over the soU and gettmg fi-eelv 

 away. •' 



Unfortunately, in the generality of cases, when 

 ferneries are attempted, they ai-e mere mounds or 

 stone-heaps; hut it is to be hoped that these are 

 things of the past, rfs, now that the Pulhamite rock 

 has been seen in so many places, no one will he 



way they have a bold and striking appearance. 

 The erection was superintended by a lady artist of 

 most cultured and refined taste, and its planting and 

 cultivation were for many years under the care ot 

 one of the best practical gardeners, Mr. Parsons. 

 The fernery lies on a gentle slope, and has, as may 

 be seen by the engraving, a rich background of tall 



Bock Fkknert at Da>*esburt. 



satisfied without having some of this work carried 

 out ; for, besides being bold, picturesque, and grand, 

 fcms look more at home in the nooks, crannies, and 

 fissures than they do anywhere else. 



One of the finest examples of these artificial rock- 

 made ferneries is at Daneshury, where a most svut- 

 able spot has been chosen iij a, deU-Hke valley tmder 

 the shade of overhanging trees. Here the ferns 

 and other plants flourish amazingly, as, besides 

 being in a most suitable situation, their wants are 

 cared for in the way of soil, and they are planted in 

 well-defined or distinct groups, arranged in which 



trees and masses of Ivj-. The latter, if kept in due 

 subjection, not only associates well with ferns, but 

 forms one of the richest backgrounds possible to the 

 groups and masses of artificial rock that are introduced 

 with great taste, as in the front of our engraving, and 

 lose themselves in the I^y and wood at the back. 

 Some of the taller and hardier ferns are also carried 

 far back into the wood, and thrive luxuriantly imder 

 the shade of the trees, or hold their own among the 

 Ivy which is beautiful at all seasons, but specially 

 so when clustered with golden blossoms or alive with 

 the hum of wasps, through October, or, when mild, 



