I 



158 



GARDEN GUIDE 



the strata in the rock be seriously changed. The sketch shows the 

 strata of the rocks naturally arranged and provided with a dip which 

 will catch the moisture. Leave plenty of soil space between the 

 rocks and plan little pockets to catch the water. Provide drainage 

 by the use of a quantity of ashes or fine gravel in the center of the 

 mound. The rocks get very hot and some plants may dry readily. 

 If a little water can be provided it should be conducted to the top 

 and allowed to seep down through the crevices. In Winter a protec- 

 tion of straw and decayed manure over the plants will be beneficial 

 It is best not to remove this protection too early. Neglect it a bit. 

 Evergreen branches are excellent for those covering plants which do 

 not die down each year. 



Material for Rock Garden 



The rock garden is essentially a wild feature and a 

 great deal of native material should be used. No varie- 

 gated or freak horticultural varieties should be 

 introduced. Even fancy and well bred varie- 

 ties are better when absent. We refer to 

 dressy varieties as the Mme. Chereau German 

 Iris or^ in fact, anything 

 of this sort. It is well to 

 grow in the rockery the 

 interesting little plants 

 which need special at- 

 tention to be seen prop- 

 erly. 



Bulbs are excellent. 

 Snowdrops, Narcissus, 

 Scillas, Fritillarias, and 

 Crocuses are all quite 

 necessary. 



Large trees should 

 be avoided and some 

 trees especially ; for example, Hawthorns and Elms require much water 

 and should never be planted. The smaller evergreens, Junipers, Arbor 

 Vitaes, broad-leaved evergreens, Yucca and Cacti are excellent. 



If the rock area is extensive and a very quick result is wished, the 

 use of annuals is excellent. Dr. Southwick has used annuals most 

 effectively in his **Garden of the Heart" in Central Park, N. Y. The 

 otherwise objectionable colors of Petunia are there very cheery. 

 Lobelia erinus is indispensable. California Poppies, either the golden, 

 the crimson or the white ones, are very pretty. Baby's Breath (Gyp- 



Diagram to show, in a general way, the placing 

 of the boulders or large stones in the making of 

 rock garden. A shelving arrangement is adopted, 

 leaving spaces, called pockets, between the stones. 

 These should be arranged so as to catch the rain. 

 At the same time the water must pass readily away 

 through drainage channels 



