Part I. 



THE ROCK-GARDEN. 



27 



artificial rockwork may be admirably associated with shrubs and 

 trees, and vigorous climbing and trailing plants, but it is utterly 

 unsuitable for true alpine vegetation. When properly con- 

 structed, care is taken to make the interior of the cemented 

 masses with deep beds of earth, leaving holes here and there in 

 the face of the structure from which plants can peep forth, while 

 the top is left open, and may be planted with shrubs or trees. 

 The new hybrid Clematises, with their noble flowers, will, if 

 planted in these rich cases of earth and allowed to fall over the 

 faces of the rocks, make an unrivalled display, and the position 

 is also most suitable for all kinds of climbers, trailers, and 



Fig. 26. — Masses of artificial rock made of bricks and cement. 



shrubs ; but the stony mound, free in every pore, or the rock- 

 work constructed of separate pieces of stone, is infinitely the 

 best for the small flora of the rocks. I have never seen on the 

 large masses of cemented rock half the amount of beauty 

 afforded in a few weeks after planting by the little bed shown in 

 Fig. 27. The plants that thrive luxuriantly on walls and old 

 ruins, and" send their roots far into the crevices of such, cannot 

 obtain the slightest footing on these large masses coated with 

 cement ; and little plants stuck in the " pockets " which the con- 

 structors leave here and there on the face of the edifice rarely 

 look otherwise than ridiculous. They should never be placed in 

 such positions, and the rockwork made of natural stone should 

 be preferred at almost any sacrifice. Where, however, natural 

 stone cannot be obtained, the cemented work may be used with 



