Rock-Loving Ferns in the Garden— By G. a. Woolson 



HOW TO INTRODUCE INTO OUR HOME GARDENS THE CHOICEST FERNS OF THE WOODS 

 AND ROCKS, AND MAKE THEM FEEL AT HOME— A PRACTICAL WAY OF GROWING THE 

 WALKING-LEAF AND OTHER DAINTY SPECIES THAT REQUIRE EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS 



Photographs by the author and H. H. Swift 



THE association of rock and fern is not 

 accidental, but a simple device of Na- 

 ture for inducing a lower temperature, moist- 

 ture for the fern roots, and the needful supply 

 of disintegrating limestone or other mineral 

 matter. 



The owners of large estates may be fortu- 

 nate enough to possess naturally shaded dells 

 or at least ravines which can, with little ex- 

 pense and trouble, be converted into charm- 

 ing glades full of nooks and corners, where 

 hardy ferns from all parts of the earth may 

 be naturalised. 



Rockwork plays an important part in the 

 landscape gardener's art. But great under- 

 takings which require skilled artisans, an 

 endless amount of stone and much expense 

 are confined chiefly to public parks and 

 gardens. Boulders artistically arranged about 

 a fountain, with a leafy canopy overhead, 

 are for the favoured few; but a few stones 

 judiciously placed are within the reach of 

 the majority and will afford more pleasure 

 in proportion to the time consumed in the 

 making and in space occupied than could be 

 obtained in any other way. 



A shady nook is of course the ideal loca- 

 tion, but is not always available. Partial 

 shade, however, is imperative. Pines and 

 spruces make an artistic background and 

 soften the abrupt transition from smooth 

 lawn to ragged rocks. The color effect of 

 rock and fern against a screen of Virginia 

 creeper (Ampelopsis quinquejolia) is particu- 

 larly fine, and within the reach of all. 



In the selection of rocks most people have 

 to take what they can get ; but, given a choice, 



sandstone and calcareous rocks are the most 

 desirable. Much of the so-called artificial 

 rockwork is composed of tufa, a soft, porous 

 volcanic stone of light weight. 



Nothing, however, can surpass the pic- 



cies require a richer and lighter compost in 

 which leaf-mould predominates. 



In building rockeries on our lawns we may 

 follow general principles but may not imitate 

 Nature in detail of construction, for too much 



The foundation of a practical rockery where plants will grow. Every crevice connects with the ground. No 

 water-tight pockets to swamp and then dry up. Weathered and porous rocks used 



turesque quality of a bit of old limestone in 

 process of decay. Freshly quarried stones 

 of any kind should never be used; the more 

 rugged and weather-beaten they are the 

 better for the place assigned. 



Rock plants in general require light, sandy 

 soil mixed with old mortar, if decomposed 

 limestone is not at hand; brick rubbish also 

 makes a satisfactory mixture. Certain spe- 



A fern that will grow almost anywhere, 

 either sun or shade. 



The maidenhair spieenwort (Asplenium Trtchomanes ) does well in 

 When planting make the earth firm and tight 



24 



confusion is out of place on a well-ordered 

 lawn; therefore we have recourse to some- 

 thing " 'twixt art and Nature." Happily the 

 stone-wall abominations, with dry, cramped 

 pockets in which no respectable fern would 

 attempt to grow, are things of the past. 



The more exposed the position however, 

 the greater the need of something approach- 

 ing regularity, in outline at least, for proper 

 deference must be paid to the lawn mower. 



Whatever form of architecture is adopted, 

 see to it that there is a soil connection through 

 every pocket and crevice with the earth 

 beneath, and that the top soil is firmed 

 down to that which is underneath, otherwise 

 capillary attraction will have no more chance 

 of keeping the earth damp than in an imper- 

 fectly drained flower pot. This is the funda- 

 mental principle on which depends success- 

 ful garden rockwork or rockeries, whether 

 for ferns or anything else. 



Environments usually suggest the proper 

 style, which should always be simple and 

 unpretentious. 



THE CIRCULAR ROCKERY A CONVENIENCE 



As a matter of convenience, I have a cir- 

 cular rockery on my lawn. Careful selection 

 of stones gives a varied outline ; a curved slab 

 of calcareous rock is highly valued, as it is so 

 advanced in decay that layers are easily sprung 

 and ferns inserted as fancy dictates. Regu- 

 larity ceases with the marginal tier of stones. 

 Four good-sized rocks artistically irregular 

 in shape are placed at right angles slightly 

 inclined toward the centre ; the space between 



