56 Ferns and Fern Culture. 
ROCK WORK (INDOORS). 
It is impossible to give more than a few general direc- 
tions on this subject in the space at disposal. 
The construction of a rock fernery in a natural manner 
requires great experience, combined with a knowledge 
of the various requirements of Ferns. 
The stone suitable for the purpose is of three kinds— 
sandstone, tufa, and limestone. Sometimes clinkers, or 
large pieces of coke dipped in thin cement, are used, 
These, however, are but a poor substitute for stone. 
The plan of construction in all cases must depend 
largely upon the space at command, Where it is possi- 
ble to go down into the ground the effect will be much 
finer than when the rockwork is all above the ground- 
level. The beauty of Ferns is seen to best advantage 
when looked down upon. The walks should undulate 
and wind to and fro; they should be made of stone or 
concrete with rugged steps here and there, the stone 
rising on each side, as though the whole were cut out of 
the solid rock. Bold projections may be arranged at 
intervals, and so cause an entirely new view each step 
that is taken. In building the stone together large 
pockets shonld be provided, to hold a good supply of 
compost, and these should be so arranged that they may 
be connected with the bulk of the soil on which the body 
of the rock is built. The arrangement of the stone 
should be irregular and free from any appearance of 
artificiality. The receptacles for the plants should 
recede as they rise, and the rock should be fixed so that 
the light may get to the lowest part without obstruc- 
tion. 
Arches may be ornamental, but they are not natural, 
and though to a limited degree they may be tolerated in 
a large place, the fernery will look better and more 
natural without them, and certainly the Ferns will grow 
more satisfactorily. 
However large or small the fernery may be, it should 
continually be kept in mind that vegetation below the 
eye should be in equal or better condition than that 
above. This can be secured only by allowing full access 
