HERMITAGES, &c. 



705 



of large foliage, that the visitor to the 

 scene may step upon it unexpectedly. 

 Water in all cases adds greatly to the 

 general effect, and a small pond permits 

 the construction of a rocky island, which 

 should be formed with jutting points, for 

 the sake of the reflection in the water. 

 By a simple expedient, streams of water 

 may be made to issue from the rocks, or 

 to spout into the air, and fall into beauti- 

 ful cascades." 



" Rockwork," says the authoress of the 

 Ladies' Companion to the Flower Gar- 

 den, " should always be an independent 

 feature. It rarely looks well when piled 

 up against a wall, or around the roots of 

 a tree, or in any situation where it is over- 

 shadowed by trees ; in short, where it does 

 not form the prominent feature in the 

 scene. It looks well near water, and 

 merging into it ; or in an open airy gar- 

 den, where it is surrounded by a gravel 

 walk ; but it does not look so well when 

 rising from turf, without an adjoining 

 walk, or where large shrubs grow up 

 amongst the stones. In short, it may be 

 laid down as a general principle, that rock- 

 work should either adjoin gravel or a piece 

 of water, and that it should seldom or 

 never adjoin trees, or grass, or walls in 

 buildings." Round the margins of ponds — 

 forming the base of fountains, if not of a 

 highly architectural character — or on the 

 sides and tops of steep banks, rockwork 

 may be placed with becoming propriety. 

 In regard to construction, it should be 

 made as closely as possible to imitate 

 some natural piece of rock, possessing 

 some peculiarity either of outline or stra- 

 tification. The material should be all of 

 the same nature and character, and in as 

 large pieces as possible. If otherwise, it 

 can have no claim to a natural imitation, 

 and can only be regarded as a stonery — a 

 nidus for the growth of alpine plants, or 

 a heap of rubbish, and a blotch in the 

 garden scene. 



Rootworh has a somewhat near connec- 

 tion with rockwork, but sufficiently dis- 

 tinct to admit of not mixing them together. 

 The best specimens we have seen of root- 

 work were that many years ago formed 

 by Lady Grenville, at Dropmore, and that 

 of more recent erection at Drumlanrig 

 Castle. At the latter place, in a low and 

 somewhat obscure ravine, nearly attached 

 to the splendid flow T er-garden, and con- 



VOL. I. 



nected with it by a private walk, very 

 well designed, is placed the rootwork 

 garden, which, like everything about that 

 ducal residence, is upon a large scale. 

 Here conglomerations of the roots of trees, 

 dug from some neighbouring peat-bogs, 

 and of huge dimensions, are scattered 

 about in tasteful confusion, or piled up 

 into most grotesque forms- the whole 

 being placed on a grassy base, intersected 

 by tortuous gravel-walks, connecting the 

 various parts together. In the hollows 

 formed by decay, and in the angles formed 

 by the original position of the larger roots, 

 are planted rock plants in great variety, 

 and harmonising well with the blackened 

 appearance of the roots which supported 

 the monarch oaks of some former century. 

 In constructing this description of garden 

 ornament, one object must ever be steadily 

 kept in view, namely, that of creating 

 artificial ornaments without much ex- 

 pense, and arranging the roots so that 

 they may not appear to have been thrown 

 down carelessly, but placed there by de- 

 sign. Such conglomerations, even con- 

 sidered merely as receptacles for dwarf 

 and trailing plants, are perhaps more 

 pleasing than conglomerations of stones, 

 because less effort is displayed to attain 

 the object desired. 



Roots are often employed in the con- 

 struction of rustic seats, alcoves, and 

 places of shelter, as imaginary fences, 

 and, as in the case of the root-garden at 

 Drumlanrig, for hand-railings or balus- 

 trading to the rustic stairs leading from 

 one part of the garden to another. 



§ 3. — HEEMITAGES, AKBOUKS, MOSS- 

 HOUSES, AND SEATS. 



These are all very pleasing and useful 

 objects, particularly in extensive grounds. 

 They not only serve as places of rest 

 and shelter, but also as guides to the 

 points from which the beauties of the 

 surrounding scenes are to be seen to most 

 advantage. The style of these erections 

 must depend on the situation in which 

 they are placed, or the situation must be 

 selected for the intended erection. 



In romantic and wild scenery, rustic 

 seats or houses should be placed; but 

 where the hand of art has been more 



4 u 



