28 TREATMENT OF SLOPING GROUNDS. 



As a rule, the vines should be planted in the deepest soil 

 near the top of the rock, and not at the base. The excep- 

 tion to this rule is the Ampelopsis tricuspidata or Japan 

 ivy. Wherever this excellent vine is planted in rockwork, 

 it should stand at the base of a rock, and thus climb up by 

 means of its rootlets, rather than fall over and lose its most 

 characteristic effect. It is a thick-growing vine, and com- 

 pletely covers any moderate-sized space it seizes on. Thin- 

 ning out this vine is not easy. It does not look natural for 

 some time after being thinned out, no matter how much 

 care is taken. For this I'eason, the Japan ivy is not to be 

 generally commended for covering rocks. Such vines as 

 Virginia creepei', honeysuckles, Virginia silk, Ahebia qui- 

 ■nata, trumpet creeper (Tecoma radicans), clematis, Dutch- 

 man's pipe, bittei'-sweet (Celastrus scandens), and above 

 all Wistaria, are always found picturesque-looking on rocks. 



Trees and shrubs should be planted on the higher por- 

 tions of the banks or sloping grounds, and not usually in 

 the valleys or hollows. This arrangement tends to increase 

 the effect of the irregularity of the grounds and emphasizes 

 the higher points that manifestly require emphasis. 



Some of the best trees and shrubs for planting among 

 rocks are those that weep or droop, or are irregular and pic- 

 turesque-looking. Among trees I may name as specially 

 suitable for this purpose, the varieties of Japanese maple 

 (Acer polymorphum), the alders, Andromeda arbor ea, 

 Aralia spinosa (Hercules' club), Aralm Japonica, white 

 birch, European and American hornbeam, white-ilowering 

 dogwood, Cratcegus Crus-galli (the cock-spur thorn), O. 

 coGcima, weeping beech, honey-locust, Kentucky coffee 



