ROCKWORK. 



703 



been moulded out by the action of the 

 weather as they lay scattered along the 

 sea beach, were transported about three 

 miles. These stones had all the appear- 

 ance of age — a point of much consequence 

 in collecting materials for rockwork — and 

 were profusely covered with moss and 

 lichens. The spaces between were well 

 covered with creeping plants, bushes, and 

 trees ; and the lake was stored, not only 

 * with gold and silver fish, but with aquatic 

 plants also. Indeed, if the proprietor 

 were fond of Alpine plants, we believe 

 that the majority of the flora of Switzer- 

 land might be cultivated in this spot, and 

 make it, in a botanical point of view, 

 still more interesting and unique. The 

 lake is, of course, supplied by artificial 

 means ; but upon a more extended scale, 

 and in localities where water can be had, 

 it might be laid on ; and in that case, the 

 apparently long empty cataract might 

 be restored to its pristine use. 



Rockwork should always be kept in 

 the back ground, if artificial ; and in a 

 garden, placed on a level surface, because 

 it is an attempt to imitate nature, where 

 all around it is art. The case is different 

 where the situation is naturally rocky, 

 and where projecting portions of rock can 

 be laid bare to form the ground-work. 

 Art may here step in, and dispose of addi- 

 tional pieces of rocky substances, avoiding 

 the employment of such as are foreign to 

 the locality, to give greater height, rug- 

 gedness, or character to the other. It may 

 be advantageously employed in the for- 

 mation of screens for shutting out ob- 

 jects which are not wished to be seen ; 

 to render more secluded and sheltered 

 small places, such as villa- gardens, as has 

 been already shown ; it may form the 

 termination of a long, or even principal 

 walk, provided nothing better can be 

 substituted. It should never rise out of 

 the smooth-dressed lawn, nor be placed 

 too near the house, shrubbery and ter- 

 raced banks being better for shutting out 

 objects in the foreground. When the cul- 

 ture of rock-plants is an object, the rockery 

 should present two or more aspects, one 

 damp and shaded, the other fully exposed 

 to the sun. Ferns and plants of shade 

 should occupy the former, while sun- 

 loving plants should inhabit the latter. 

 Rocks associate naturally with water; 

 and where a pool can be placed at its 



base, with its margin sufficiently broken 

 and rugged, the effect will be heightened, 

 and the plants derive advantage from the 

 aqueous exhalations rising during the heat 

 of summer. The pool also becomes an 

 aquarium, and in it many interesting 

 plants can be grown. The rock-garden 

 may, with great propriety, be surrounded 

 by shrubbery, shutting it out, as it were, 

 from the general plan of the flower-gar- 

 den ; and, if approached through a rustic 

 arch, or even, if upon a large scale, through 

 a partially darkened tunnel, the surprise 

 will be greater, and the mind will, in 

 general, be pleased. " No appearance of 

 art, and no approach to the regularity or 

 smoothness proper to works of art, will 

 be at all in place here. On the contrary, 

 the surface of the whole cannot be too 

 irregular, or too varied, indented, or pro- 

 minent. An additional projection must be 

 given to some of the parts, by moderate- 

 sized bushes, or short-stemmed weeping- 

 trees. Evergreen shrubs or low trees will 

 be particularly useful. For ordinary prac- 

 tice, the materials of which a rockery, 

 however small, is formed, should lie on 

 their broadest or flat sides, and not be set 

 on edge, much less be placed with their 

 points upwards. A little deviation may 

 occasionally be allowed, for variety ; but 

 the mass will have more the appearance 

 of solidity and strength, and be more 

 according to nature's teaching, if each 

 piece be laid flat, with the outer edge shad- 

 ing a little downwards rather than up- 

 wards. A rock-garden, if its size demands 

 it, may be traversed, or made more acces- 

 sible, by very narrow walks just capable 

 of admitting one person. These need not 

 be of any uniform width, and should have 

 no regular margin. They may be made 

 of some quiet coloured material, and not 

 covered with dressed gravel. Any great 

 elevation should never be sought in small 

 rockeries. This would be inconsistent with 

 their breadth, and would render them too 

 prominent and artificial. They should-not 

 be carried higher than the point at which 

 they can be well supported and backed 

 with a broad mass of earth and vegeta- 

 tion. Additional height may sometimes 

 be given, if desired, by excavating into a 

 hollow the base from which they spring." 

 — Kemp on Small Gardens. 



We have already remarked that rocks 

 should not appear to rise out of the 



