CULTIVATION, 347 



glomerated masses of brick, or bricks artificially- 

 amassed witii Portland cement to form miniature 

 rooksj rugged coneSj rough pillars, or perpendicular 

 surfaces. However, when procurable, the absorbent 

 and roughly quarried soft stone should enter largely into 

 the composition of the rockery, as it is pre-eminently 

 useful, not only in contributing so largely to the 

 natural appearance of the whole, but, when the more 

 delicate members of the Fern family of creeping habit 

 are grown, it is invaluable in affording a moist surface 

 for their tender rhizomes to cling to. It is seldom 

 that wood of any kind is found of much use, as it is 

 so soon reduced by decomposition, and fungi produced 

 in contaminating profusion. The soil to be used in 

 the rockery-house should be selected and applied 

 according to the principle already given in pot- 

 culture. The style of the Fern-rockery having been 

 decided on and executed accordingly, the next step 

 will be to arrange the plants about it ; and to carry this 

 out satisfactorily is not the least difficult part of the 

 whole undertaking, as it is not only essential to provide 

 positions for each individual plant, but such that 

 will prevent any injurious interference of its neighbour, 

 either by foHage or root. 



Should the roof require support (and if not, should 

 it be consistent with elegance and regularity), pillars 

 composed of rough porous stone or brickwork may 

 be constructed, and, if admissible, united above as 

 archings, which, when clothed with the luxuriant 

 foliage of scandent and pendulous Ferns, intermixed 

 with the broad foliage of creeping Arddece, growing 

 from their crevices and recesses, would greatly enhance 

 the beauty of the whole, and give a most accurate and 



