rEBNS. 



within high walls wherera to indulge our fancy for fern- 

 growing, w« must perforce content ourselves with a little 

 rockwork along the sides and in the angles, or in the centre 

 if it be large enough, as there will be sufficient shade without 

 attempting to procure it artificially by the roof of the shed. 



The following is the method of making rockwork for the 

 reception of ferns. A quantity of broken tUes, rubbish, and 

 old mortar should be first thrown together in the form which 

 we wish our structure to assume ; this both serves as a founda- 

 tion for the superincumbent mass, and affiards the means oi 

 kee£iing the upper portion well drained. The interstices in 

 this heap of rubbish may be filled, as we proceed, with rough 

 sand a.ad gravel. A thick layer of compost, formed of loam, 

 peat, sai±d, old mortar, and charcoal, should be spread over 

 this heap, and the exterior faced with dark pieces of rock and 

 clinkers, blocks of grey limestone, and rough white flints piled 

 together in an artistic manner, devoid of anything approaching 

 formality. The compost that has just been named v/ill do 

 well enough for any kind of fern as far as general purposes 

 are concerned, but each interstice between the stones should 

 be lightly filled with the paitioular compost that is best suited 

 for the fern that is destined to grow there, after which the 

 rhizomes must be carefiiUy planted. " 



Rockwork in a close court that is seldom visited by sunshine, 

 will retain its moisture for a considerable time, but arrange- 

 ments should be made to furnish the garden rockery with a 

 constant supply from a perforated pipe, or a fountain should be 

 made in its vicinity, which will throw a perpetual sprinkle of 

 spray over those plants whose fronds constantly require the 

 refreshing shower ; but if these means are not available, it 

 must be kept well watered with the watering-pot or garden- 

 engine. For such plants as the Flowering Fern and Marsh 

 Fern, that thrive best in marshy land, and require the soil 

 about their roots to be always well saturated with water, pits 

 should be made in convenient comers of the fernery, lined with 

 puddled clay, to prevent the water from soaking away, and 

 fiUed with peat or bog earth. 



The rockery in the garden should be so situated that one 

 side may be kept in constant shadow, and to secure this, 

 advantage should be taken of any portion of the garden wall 

 that happens to be placed in a convenient position to afford 

 the necessary shade, or it should be gained by planting shrubs 

 to intercept the sun's rays. This is more readily and pic- 



827 



