36 LITTLE GARDENS 
9 inches. Provision is thus made for single plants or for clumps, 
or for those that naturally spread. Certain pieces of rock may 
project outwards, and these should have a flat, or almost flat, 
surface. One stone must not overhang another, as water would, 
in such a case, be prevented from running into the soil around the 
roots of the plants. The water should drip from the stones to the 
soil in the intervening spaces, not from stone to stone, and finally 
to the ground surrounding the rockery. Fill up as required with 
prepared compost. 
Planting.—It is a wise plan to put in good specimen plants at 
first. The rarer or more delicate kinds are planted from pots, so 
that they may become the sooner established in their new quarters. 
Succulent plants, and those of a mossy habit should be planted on, 
or near, the flat shaped stones that the growths may spread over 
the surface. Those of a pendulous habit need positions which 
overhang pieces of rock; the shoots will then depend gracefully 
from the edges. Ferns require plenty of rooting space, and should 
be planted judiciously in the rockery, so as to give a fully furnished 
appearance when their fronds are full grown, without unduly over- 
crowding other subjects. 
Some Suitable Plants to Grow.—Alyssum saxatile com- 
pactum, golden yellow ; Arabis, double and single, white ; Aubrietias, 
Campanula Attica, purple ; C. alba, white ; Cerastium tomentosum, 
white flowers, silvery foliage, grow in masses; Dianthus (Indian 
Pink), Foxgloves, Gilia tricolor, Iberis Gibraltarica, Ionopsidium 
acaule (lilac flowers); Linum flavum, golden yellow; Lychnis 
Lagascae rosea, Mesembryanthemum tricolor, Nemesia compacta 
coerulea, Nierembergia gracilis, Oxalis corniculata purpurea, 
Sanvitalia procumbens, beautiful trailing habit, and free flowering ; 
Saponaria, Sedums, Saxifragas, Silene pendula, pink; S. Alpestris, 
white ; Sempervivums, Potentillas, hardy Primulas, Alpine Phloxes, 
Myosotis, Lithospermum prostratum, St. John’s Wort, Gypsophila 
repens, Gentian, Arenaria, Anemone Alpina, A. sulphurea, 
Aethionema grandiflora, Achilleas, and hardy ferns, of which the 
following are suitable for a small rockery: Adiantum pedatum, 
Allosorus crispus, Asplenium Filix-foemina (Lady Fern), Ceterach 
officinarum, Nephrodium Filix-mas (Male Fern), Osmunda regalis 
(the Royal Fern), Polypodium Dryopteris (Oak Fern), P. vulgare, 
Onoclea sensibilis, and Scolopendrium in variety. Ferns are often 
planted in too much peat, with the result that the roots get very 
dry in such positions and the fronds shrivel. Some peat may be 
used, but only a smail quantity. If the peat is simply mixed with 
good fibrous loam, and 1 peck of old mortar rubbish is used to 
ae of the compost, a capital rooting medium for ferns is 
obtained. 
