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ON ROCKERIES AND ALPINE PLANTS. 
Numerous as are the embellisliments of which a flower-garden is susceptible, 
there is none which is so generally neglected, and at the same time is so strikingly- 
ornamental and picturesque, as a group of fragments or masses of rock or stone. 
As the basement of a small and elegant fountain, or the boundary of an ornamental 
basin ; as isolated groups in the flower-garden, or more extensive assemblages in 
the pleasure-grounds ; they have a most powerful and exhilarating influence on the 
lover of nature, and, if judiciously introduced, are certainly far from being offen- 
sive to persons of the most correct and refined taste. 
The practice of attempting to imitate nature in the formation of pleasure- 
grounds, has been most severely animadverted upon by many eminent writers ; 
but, unless this principle is carried to a ridiculous extreme, we imagine that there 
are few landscape gardeners of the present day who will be found to coincide in 
that opinion. Indeed, the greater the diversity of objects that can be appropriately 
congregated together in the flower-garden, or dispersed through the pleasure- 
ground, the more pleasing and captivating will be the general effect. 
Artificial rockeries may be regarded as a species of mimicry of nature ; although 
we are not aware that they have frequently fallen beneath the general censure. 
Some writers, it is true, have advocated their exclusion from the flower-garden, 
as being out of character with the usual formality of such a department, but all agree 
in allowing them a place in the pleasure-grounds. They may be constructed of a 
variety of materials, will answer many useful and ornamental purposes, and, in the 
hands of a skilful artisan, or [even of an amateur with any pretensions to taste, 
may be rendered objects of great interest and attraction. 
Several examples of different kinds of rock-work occur in the vicinity of the 
metropolis. That of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, at Sion House, has 
by some been considered the finest specimen of the kind in Britain. With a due 
appreciation of the grandeur and boldness of the design, and the tastefulness of its 
execution ; and also admitting that the object for which it was evidently intended — 
that of forming an easy and almost imperceptible boundary to the flower-garden — 
is fully effected ; we cannot perceive much that is really ornamental in the general 
effect, and are inclined to conceive that a detached group has a much more favour- 
able appearance, and might certainly be formed with less expense. As an instance 
of that peculiar kind of rock-work, it is perhaps imrivalled ; but it fails of pro- 
ducing any effect beyond that for which it was designed, and is an example that 
we cannot think worthy of imitation, however suitable it may be to that particular 
locality. 
The kind of rock- work which we would recommend, — that is, where a com- 
