EOCK, ALPINE, FERX, AND WILD GARDENING. 



109 



passing through or over the soil and getting freely 

 a^ay. 



LTnfortunately, in the generality of cases, when 

 ferneries are attempted, they are mere mounds or 

 stone-heaps; hut it is to he hoped that these are 

 things of the past, as, now that the Pulhamite rock 

 has heen seen in so many places, no one will he 



way they have a hold and striking appearance. 

 The erection was superintended hy a lady artist of 

 most cultured and refined taste, and its planting and 

 cultivation were for many years under the care of 

 one of the hest practical gardeners, Mr. Parsons. 

 The fernery lies on a gentle slope, and has, as may 

 he seen hy the engraving, a rich hackground of tall 



EocK Feknekt at Danesbuet. 



satisfied without ha'vdng some of this work carried 

 out ; for, hesides heing hold, picturesque, and grand, 

 ferns look more at home in the nooks, crannies, and 

 fissures than they do anywhere else. 



One of the finest examples of these artificial rock- 

 made ferneries is at Danesbury, where a most suit- 

 able spot has heen chosen in a dell-like valley under 

 the shade of overhanging trees. Here the ferns 

 and other plants flourish amazingl}', as, hesides 

 heing in a most suitable situation, their wants are 

 cared for in the way of soil, and they are planted in 

 weU-defined or distinct groups, arranged in which 



trees and masses of Ivy. The latter, if kept in due 

 subjection, not only associates well with ferns, but 

 forms one of the richest backgrounds possible to the 

 groups and masses of artificial rock that are introduced 

 with great taste, as in the front of our engraving, and 

 lose themselves in the Ivy and wood at the back. 

 Some of the taller and hardier ferns are also carried 

 far back into the wood, and thrive luxuriantly under 

 the shade of the trees, or hold their own among the 

 Ivy which is beautiful at all seasons, but s^Jecially 

 so when clustered with golden blossoms or alive witli 

 the hum of wasps, through October, or, when mild, 



