Part I. THE ROCK-GARDEN. 7 



run on one side under the debris, and on the other into a fissure 

 of soil or through a mass of broken rocks several feet deep. 

 Now this is impossible in the rockworks generally made. On 

 them even the coarsest British weeds cannot find a resting-place, 

 simply because there is no motherly body of soil or. matter into 

 which the descending roots may penetrate, and find nourish- 

 ment sufficient to keep the plant fresh and bright and well in all 

 weathers. It is not only those who make their " rockwork " out 

 of spoilt bricks, cement, and perhaps clinkers, that err in this 

 respect, but the designers of some of the most expensive works 

 in the country. At Chatsworth, for instance, and also to some 

 extent at the Crystal Palace, you see rockwork satisfactory so 

 far as regards its distant effect in the garden landscape ; but, 

 when examined closely, it might well be imagined that rockwork 

 and rock plants were never intended for each other's company, 

 so bare are many of these large works of their proper and best 

 ornaments. It is generally a 

 pavement of small stones, huge 

 masses of rock, or imitation 

 rock formed by laying cement 

 over brickwork, and in none of 

 these cases is it adapted for the 

 cultivation of high mountain rig. 4.— pidaU^exposed rock resting 



plants. °^ '^^ largest side. 



It is quite possible to combine the most picturesque effects 

 of which rockwork is capable with all the requirements for 

 plant-growing ; but, in the case of extensive rockwork-making, 

 the owner must either call to his aid a landscape gardener of 

 some skill in this way, or possess .much taste and knowledge of 

 the work himself. It is easy to use the largest stones and make 

 the boldest prominences, and leave at the same time rather level 

 intervening spaces and fissures, in which rock plants may 

 luxuriate ; but I would not recommend ambitious attempts of 

 this kind — at least at first. It requires great taste to do it well, 

 and the higher and bolder the attempt the more conspicuous 

 will be a failure. 



We will now enter into particulars as to the various 

 ways in which alpine plants may be grown, beginning 

 with the best type of rock-garden — that in which, in ad- 

 dition to low-lying, stony, and rocky banks and slopes, 

 where numbers of hardy and vigorous species may be grown. 



