ROOTWORK. 



249 



ROOTWORK. 



its beauty is so very short-lived that 

 it is difficult to find a perfect flower, 

 as one or two of its petals drop almost 

 as soon as the flower expands. It is 

 quite hardy, and only requires to 

 have its seeds sown in the open 

 border in April. 



Rolling. — Gravel walks cannot be 

 kept in proper order without frequent 

 rolling; and this rolling is most 

 efficacious when the ground is moist 

 below, but the upper surfac? is dry. 

 On this account the best time for 

 rolling is a fine dry day, after two or 

 three days' rains ; and when rolling 

 is necessary in continued dry weather, 

 the walk should be previously 

 watered. Turf should also be rolled 

 occasionally, to prevent its surface 

 from becoming uneven. 



Rondele v tia. — Rubiacece. — 

 Beautiful stove plants, with white, 

 pink, or scarlet flowers, natives of the 

 East and "West Indies. R. odorata, 

 which is the most common, has ter- 

 minal corymbs of scarlet flowers 

 greatly resembling those of Iocora 

 coccinea. It should be grown in a 

 moist stove, in peat, sand, and loam, 

 the pots being well drained with pot- 

 sherds and cinders. The floAvers are 

 produced in great abundance, and 

 they are very fragrant as well as 

 beautiful. 



Rootwork. — The roots of trees 

 and especially large roots, including 

 the stool, or base of the tree after the 

 trunk has been cut down to the 

 ground, may be combined together in 

 various ways useful, ornamental, or 

 curious, in gardening. Two or three 

 large stools of trees grouped together 

 on a lawn with mould and plants 

 placed in their interstices, form a 

 striking contrast to the smoothness 

 and high art displayed on the general 

 surface of the lawn. The plants 

 placed among the roots, whether in 

 pots concealed by mosses, stones, or 

 mould, or planted in soil, should 



never be of indigenous kinds common 

 in the locality ; for these might be 

 mistaken for weeds ; but of exotic 

 kinds, such as Geraniums, Petunias, 

 Maurandyas, &c. or of British or 

 European alpines of small size, neat 

 foliage, and brilliant flowers. The 

 idea to be kept in view is, that of 

 creating artificial ornaments without 

 much expense ; and therefore, the 

 roots must never appear to have been 

 left where they are by carelessness or 

 accident, but placed by design, and 

 with reference to the composition of 

 which they form a part. In many 

 situations, conglomerations of roots as 

 a receptacle for plants are more pleas- 

 ing than conglomerations of stones ; 

 because they display less effort, and 

 seem a more natural and easy way of 

 obtaining a nidus for ornamental 

 plants. Too much effort and ex- 

 pense for attaining any object is never 

 altogether so satisfactory, as when the 

 same object is obtained with ease and 

 economy. Hence rustic seats in a 

 pleasure-ground, and rustic vases, or 

 other vessels for containing plants, are 

 more satisfactory than cast-iron seats 

 or marble vases, unless indeed the 

 latter are connected with some 

 building. 



Roots may also be combined to- 

 gether so as to form seats, open or 

 covered huts, grotto-like structures, 

 and grotesque bridges ; and one object 

 for which they are particularly suit- 

 able is for placing on the margin of 

 pieces of artificial water along with 

 ti'ees, bushes, or plants. A smooth 

 expanse of water, like a smooth lawn, 

 requires shade and roughness to con- 

 trast with it, in order to produce a 

 striking effect ; and roots at once sup- 

 ply both roughness and shade. In 

 placing them, a part of the root should 

 always be covered by the water, and 

 another part by the soil ; and by 

 planting a young tree or bush adjoin- 

 ing the root, a double contrast is pro- 



