FLOWER-GARDENS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



267 



ible material, the outline of this under or in- 

 ternal portion being made irregular, to corre- 

 spond with the required inequalities of the 

 outer surface when completed. If there be 

 at hand a choice of stone, a number of large 

 long pieces may with advantage have their ends 

 embedded in the soil of the mound, leaving the 

 smaller pieces for filling in, to be placed in their 

 positions in the outer coating of the soil as it is 

 put on. 



In placing the masses, variety of outline and 

 aspect should be studied by making them pro- 

 ject, recede, and incline differently. If, how- 

 ever, a sloping ledge in imitation of natural 

 strata is seen in one part, similar ledges in other 

 parts should have a slope in the same direction. 

 All ledges should dip inwards towards the soil. 

 Cavities or pockets should be formed for holding 

 soil, and these ought not to be like square boxes, 

 but somewhat irregularly formed, and fre- 

 quently with the north side the highest. In 

 placing the stones, the necessary depth of soil 

 to be introduced between them should be 

 allowed for, and also lateral space for the growth 

 of the plants. From not attending to this 

 matter rockeries in other respects well con- 

 structed, have lost much of their character in a 

 few years, the smaller projections being com- 

 pletely overgrown. 



To attempt to convey an exact idea of the con- 

 struction of a rockery that will have a natural 

 appearance, neither underdone nor overdone, 

 would be about as futile as to try to impart the 

 knowledge requisite to paint a picture. The 

 best study for the construction of a Rock-garden 

 required for the purpose under consideration, is 

 to note how the stone is stratified in nature, 

 modifying it with a view to affording the best 

 possible conditions for the plants it is intended 

 for. This can be done without giving to the 

 construction that objectionable regular, formal 

 appearance which is so often seen. 



At the base of this rock-mound there may be 

 constructed a water-tight basin or canal to be 

 filled with water, proportionate in size with the 

 whole, and of easy outline. This will fulfil the 

 double purpose of providing a supply of water 

 near at hand for such plants as require it in dry 

 weather; and by its position will give a further 

 meaning to the deviations in the course of the 

 walk that should encircle the whole. "Where stone 

 and other material for the work is not readily 

 obtainable, roots of trees are sometimes used in 

 part. These should never be employed where 

 the object is to grow alpine plants, as they are 

 out of character, and their decay in the course 



of time renders the reconstraction of the worl: 

 a necessity. Moreover, they harbour rats, rabbits, 

 snails, and wood-lice, all of which creatures are 

 undesirable in any well-kept garden. 



So far we have chiefly spoken of rock-work as 

 an accessory to the culture of a particular class of 

 plants that are benefited by the conditions it pro- 

 vides, but as we have already hinted, rock-work 

 of a more pretentious character is often intro- 

 duced. There is much difference of opinion re- 

 specting it. We see attempts made on a large 

 scale to imitate the majestic works of nature, 

 but even where the supply of the right material 

 is illimitable and near at hand, and a lavish ex- 

 penditure of labour is indulged in, the result is 

 at the best only calculated to display the in- 

 significance of the attempt. The large and 

 costly piles of unmeaning, ill-placed stone, real 

 or imitation, which are often seen, are anything 

 but calculated to excite interest or pleasure in 

 the true lover of nature; yet it by no means 

 follows that because failure is the result of our 

 efforts when we attempt the impossible, we 

 should do nothing in the matter of artificial 

 rock- work. To hide some undesirable object 

 high and more or less abrupt mounds are some- 

 times raised, and the surface is more or less 

 covered with masses of stone, amongst which 

 shrubs are planted; and in many instances, the 

 result is unsatisfactory, so far as the appearance 

 of theartificial rock goes, the desired object being 

 often better accomplished by other means. 



Where there are broad expanses of grass the 

 monotony of which it is desirable to slightly 

 relieve, nothing will do this more effectively 

 than the introduction of large masses of rock 

 partially buried, with one corner standing out 

 higher than the rest, while near at hand, and 

 partially covering the lowest part, may be a 

 plant of Cotoneaster microphytta, Yinca, Ivy, 

 or some other plant of similar habit. These 

 isolated masses of rock may, if skilfully placed, 

 be made to look so natural, that their artificial 

 origin may not be suspected. Such masses as 

 the above can frequently be placed at the side 

 of a walk, where, to break an objectionable 

 straight line, it becomes necessary to make a 

 curve, and for doing which it will give an 

 apparent reason. This ma}' be done in places 

 where a tree or shrub would ultimately get 

 so high as to intercept the view from some 

 desirable point. 



Where a stream or rivulet runs through the 

 grounds, or can be diverted so as to do so, a 

 great deal of natural beauty may be imparted 

 to the garden by having recourse to work of 



