4 



THE FLORAL IVORLD 



HOW TO BUILD AND CARE FOR 

 A ROCKERY. 



In the February number of The 

 Ploral World Mrs. M. F. Powell asked 

 for some ideas on building a rockery. 

 X.et me give some of my experience. I 

 drew a circle tJiree feet across, put a 

 layer of rocks, each about the size of a 

 "brick, all around, filling the center with 

 good garden soil, covered the rock well 

 w^ith earth from the woods and planted 

 a row of ferns with the roots well in 

 •earth and tops hanging off. Then put 

 another layer of rock and earth and 

 ferns, drawing each layer in just 

 enough to give a pretty shape, until 

 about six inches across at the top, al- 

 ways filling the center with rich earth. 

 I then planted ferns in the top. The 

 center, being well filled with good 

 earth, carries the water from the top 

 through the whole rockery. 

 Mississippi. Mrs. N. L. Lord. 



I will answer Mrs. Powell's question 

 with regard to rockeries. I had sev- 

 eral in my yard when I lived in Kan- 

 sas. First have good rich soil ready to 

 use. Build the rocks around as large 

 as desired, at least three feet across, 

 and fill inside with this good soil. 

 Place nice rocks around, leaving 

 places to plant ferns or ivy, moss or 

 any little flower desired, with an ever- 

 blooming rose on top. Build the rock- 

 ery with the prettiest, most attractive 

 looking rocks you have, closing in 

 gradually to the top about three feet 

 high. This will charm all who see it. 

 But it will need care. Every evening 

 It should be sprinkled with water. Ivy 

 moss, myrtle and little vines are very 

 pretty creeping over the rocks. 



The Floral World has been a great 

 henefit to me, as well as much com- 

 pany. 



Arizona. M. J. Hopps. 



Given a favorable location, and half 

 the battle is won. When grounds and 



material are unsuitable, more skill is 

 required. It amounts to creating a pic- 

 ture. Having no shady ravine or de- 

 clivity on the grounds, select a low- 

 branching shade tree. Place at its 

 roots several large, thin slabs of rock, 

 planted on edge to show well without 

 occupying much ground space. These 

 will do much to protect the plants from 

 wind and sun. Fill in with rich soil, 

 placing the smaller stones and fern 

 roots, lady slippers, trilliums, etc., 

 working for future effect. 



Bo not surmount the rockery with 

 large-leafed ferns. Plant them low 

 down. The entire picture should have 

 a suitable background, which, with 

 quick shade, may be provided by 

 planting cane, bamboo, or any tall 

 v/aving gras^, and a few seeds of Rici- 

 nus or a Paulonia Imperialis near by. 



Porous limestone and puddingstone 

 are very effective but where few rocks 

 are availaole a large jagged stump 

 will help out wonderfully. A few 

 creeping vines of not very vigorous 

 growth will add much grace. 



Florida. Mrs. Lilie Pleas. 



To dispose of your tin cans and other 

 refuse make a rockery. Select a niche 

 around the buildings or in the garden, 

 build a wall of stone as large as a cart 

 wheel: place inside, standing upright, 

 tin cans filled with bones, small bot- 

 tles, etc. Put coal ashes upon the 

 pile and then a layer of boots, shoes 

 and broken dishes. Build a second 

 wall of stone a little inside the first, 

 to make it mound shape. Fill tin cans 

 with manure, standing them upright. 

 Over this put all the leaves and litter 

 from the mulching in the garden last 

 fall. Continue building the outside 

 wall until the structure is three feet 

 high. Then fill in all the garden soil 

 it will hold and cover with stones of 

 various size. Plant seeds between the 

 rocks. Arbonia portulacca, morning 

 glory, any low-running vine, will cover 

 the stones in a short time. 



N. H. Sarah M. Bailey. 



