Constructing and Planting a Rock Garden 
THE best position for a rockery is one which is 
open and free from the shade and drip of trees, 
and away from the formal part of the garden. 
However, as it is not always possible to have ideal condi- 
tions, we must do the best we can with the conditions as 
we find them. 
My remarks refer to a garden built on a natural group 
of rocks which are surrounded by trees — evergreen and 
By Thomas Cole, Massachusetts 
30 degree angle. The nearer all plants are to being flat 
the better the plants will do, and the less the trouble the 
frost and rains will cause. 
It will be necessary to protect the plants in winter and 
a covering of about two inches of clean straw is the best. 
Leaves are the poorest material for this purpose. 
Evergreen plants of soft growth are badly damaged 
by having the covering material come in direct contact 
with them. Some method should be adapted to keep a 
small air space between the covering material and these 
tender plants. 
The Alpine Rhododendrons, Leucothce and evergreen 
Candytuft require protection from the sun during the 
winter and a thin burlap is the best thing to use. 
Watering will be necessary several times during the 
summer. It must be applied with care or much harm 
will be done by washing the soil away from or onto 
plants of small growth. 
Those plants which lose their foliage and are more or 
less dormant during the summer should be kept as much 
A Viczi.' of General Stephen M. Welds' Rock Garden on His Es- 
tate, Dedham, Mass., Showing the Phlox Subulata in Flower. 
deciduous. There are also some of both kinds scattered 
through it and it is never free from shade at any part 
of the day. 
In constructing the garden the pockets, bays and crev- 
ices were cleared of rubbish which had accumulated in 
them and refilled with a compost of loam, sand and gravel 
and broken brick after making sure of good drainage by 
rilling in a good layer of broken stones. 
Where it was necessary to insure a sufficient depth 
of soil stones were set up in as natural a manner as pos- 
sible and plants of erect and trailing habit set in the joints 
as the work progressed. After a year*s growth the plants 
will cover up the artificial appearances and give a natural 
finish to the work. 
In setting up the stones the soil must be well packed 
around them and the joints made tight or else the rains 
and frost will cause the soil to fall out and destroy the 
plants. 
Another important point is. the stones must lean into 
the soil and not out from it or the water will nut go into 
the plants where it is needed. 
This built up work should not have more than about a 
/ View of General Welds' Garden, Showing Primulas Planted 
Along the Rocky Stream. 
as possible separate from those requiring water in large 
quantities. 
The various species of plants to be commented on may 
or may not be true Alpine or mountain plants. That they 
grow well and look well among stones or rocks is their 
chief value. They are quite at home under trees, and 
when once established will thrive for years. I have 
omitted any reference to ferns because it is impossible 
to touch all sides of the subject in one evening. 
This list of plants is arranged in the order of their 
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