THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
239 
building up a mound or ridge to an elevation, use the 
soil taken from the excavations for the foundation, unless 
there is an immense amount needed, in such case builders' 
rubbish and broken bricks may be used to fill, but it is 
essential that there be at least a depth of three feet of 
soil to cover any such rubbish. 
The placing of the rocks is the next consideration. 
Again referring to nature, we find the lower elevations 
are not so thickly interspersed with rocks, which are 
comparatively small, while higher up rocks thrust out 
more forcibly and almost entirely dominate the spaces 
of the ridges and mounds, and on such a principle must 
knoll, a strip of dry-walling could be worked into the 
general scheme. This is done by placing the largest flat 
stones at the base, then a layer of stone, the next largest 
stones, then soil, and so on until the desired height of 
wall is reached. Cracks between the stones should be 
well packed with soil, which must connect with the foun- 
dation soil at the back of. and supporting, the dry-wall- 
ing. Remember too that a sufficient inward incline is 
gi\'en to the stones to secure and retain all the moisture 
and rain, otherwise excessive drought will result, and 
will nullify the attempts of gardeners to grow plants 
thereon successfully. 
The paths through a rock garden, too, are important; 
Nothing straight or formal, no verges, no macadamized 
paths should be allowed, but rather having gravelly 
walks of a winding nature, with the rock work occa- 
sionally encroaching and receding, with grassy patches 
cut up by half-buried rocks taking off the flat exijanse. 
Of course the edges of the paths will require trimming, 
to give a neat appearance. The width should never be 
very great and also irregular, and flat rocks nearly 
buried, placed indiscriminately along the' paths will give 
a good effect, taking off the levelness, and breaking the 
monotony of continuous gravel. 
Another desirable feature of rock-gardening is steps, 
leading to, and connecting the different levels. Large 
rocks are necessary for this work, and should be laid 
quite informally to give the appearance of having been 
hewed out of the solid rock, and to make for safety 
cement should be used in the foundations, the rocks 
being laid in partly in the cement, which can be easily 
concealed at first by loose gravel, and later on, by plants 
that will adapt themselves in the crevices, and on the 
sides of the rock steps. This feature will greatly en- 
hance the beauty of the rock garden. 
( )ur next important consideration is the selection of 
A Sircaiii Ruiiniii^^ Tlirough a Rock Garden 
Adds Much to Its General Attractiveness. 
the construction proceed. Select the flat- 
ter rocks for the base work, giving each 
a slight tilt inwards. The reason for this 
is easily seen, as an outward tilt would 
throw ofif any moisture or rain much too 
quickly, and would increase the acidity of 
the soil. In placing the rocks, endeavor 
to resemble nature by arranging the rocks 
to give a stratified appearance, and at the 
same time care must be given to the lay- 
ing, to preclude any danger of disidace- 
ment of the rocks or soil, as stability is necessary 
to withstand every phase of the elements, such as high 
winds, deluges, and the constant erosion which rocks are 
subject to, but which add to their beauty and effect. Soil 
fillings around the rocks should be packed tightly, filling 
any crevices that occur, leaving no spaces under the sur- 
faces as, given time, the upper crust will surely fall in. 
Preference for rocks should always extend to those in 
the vicinity, as a better result is obtained ; should, how- 
ever, rocks have to be brought in, sandstone and lime- 
stone or any arenaceous or silicious rocks are found to 
fill the best requirements. To accentuate a mound or 
J' he Rocks Have Been I'laced to L>ive a Natural Erreet ii hile 
Consideration for the Pockets Has Not Been Overlooked. 
plants and shrubs with which to make the best showing, 
and which are best suited to the environment and fea- 
tures of a rock garden, also considering how handy 
and to what degree of heat and cold the location is 
subject to. 
Taking the shrubs first, it would be as well to desig- 
nate the most appropriate and effective places for plant- 
ing them. To prepare the approach to a good rock 
garden, care must be taken to plant suitable shrubs 
