ROCK SHRUBS 49 



is not desirable, but bold groups in several places, with an 

 occasional fringe of overhanging branches. When the 

 rock mound or bank is of only slight elevation we may 

 in this way screen distant objects from view, and give an 

 air of completeness to the whole design. If the upper 

 part of the rock garden is tenanted only by plants of small 

 stature, it almost appears as though the object of such 

 dwarfing was to enable an uninterrupted view of scenes 

 beyond. This, however, is unfortunate ; a full measure 

 of beauty is to be found among the Alpines and rock 

 flowers themselves, and a degree of seclusion and privacy 

 is necessary for their full appreciation. 



In the hottest situations where nothing else will thrive, 

 various kinds of Broom and the double and dwarf Furze 

 may be planted. It is a mistake to despise the latter 

 shrub because it grows wild on English commons ; there 

 are few more glorious sights in Nature than a golden sea 

 of Furze beneath a stormy sky. The double variety is 

 to be preferred to the single wild kind, lasting longer in 

 bloom and giving more vivid colour effects. The dwarf 

 Ulex nanus flowers at midsummer, and is suitable for 

 small rock gardens. Furze requires regular pruning to 

 keep it within bounds, and young plants are much easier 

 to establish than older specimens. The Brooms (Cytisus) 

 are a beautiful family, from the strong growing C. Albus 

 (Portuguese Broom) with its long slender branches 

 wreathed with white flowers, to the tiny C. Ardoini, 

 a miniature Alpine shrub. The Spanish Broom flowers 

 freely in hot, dry soils, and even our British Broom 

 (C. Scoparius) is worth growing on the wilder outskirts 

 of the rock garden. Of difi'erent habit to others of the 

 genus, the Purple Broom trails along ledges and falls in 

 dense curtains over large boulders. 



It is unfortunate that the Rock Roses (Cistus) are not 

 more hardy, as they are particularly suited to a dry sandy 

 soil in the upper parts of the rock garden. However, 



