FASHIONING THE GARDEN. 
15 
minent in colour to be pleasing to the eye or suitable for 
the growth of plants. If a rockery can be made of Tufa, 
sandstone or limestone rock then the appearance will not 
only be more natural and pleasing, but the conditions 
they afford as regard coolness and moisture will be more 
congenial to the growth of the plants. A rockery may be 
formed on the side of a sunny bank or slope, or in a dell 
or depression, and if in the latter case a stream of water 
can run through it so much the better. A rockery may 
also be formed in shade or partial shade to grow ferns and 
shade-loving alpines. The main points to consider in 
forming a rockery are (a) to arrange the stones in as 
natural a manner as possible ; ( b ) to allow ample space be- 
tween to accommodate tihe plants ; and (c) to have as great 
a diversity of surface conformation as the size of the 
rockery will permit. Thus, here a huge stone or two 
should stand out boldly, then others recede so as to form 
bays. Some of the stones should be buried fairly deep 
and others merely lie on or near the surface. Those who 
want to get a good idea of how to form a rockery should 
visit the Royal Gardens, Kew, and see the finest example 
of an artificial rockery ever made. The base of a rockery 
may be formed of ordinary soil, but the space between the 
stones should be composed of the special soils advised 
elsewhere for each genus of plants. If the stones are pro- 
perly arranged there will be a variety of aspects to suit 
all kinds of plants, and this after all is the real object of a 
rockery. Rockeries are largely made now of artificial rock 
so constructed as to resemble a natural ravine or rocky 
cliff, but this form of rockery is a costly one to build. 
After all the real object of a rockery is not so much a con- 
glomeration of stones as a suitable home for the lovely 
Alpine gems we desire to grow. So in building a rockery 
do not attach so much importance to the appearance of the 
rockery as to forming by its means a congenial home for 
the plants. Elsewhere will be found descriptions of a host 
of plants that may be grown in sun or in shade on a 
rockery. See Fig. 4. 
Fernery. — A hardy fernery is a charming addition to a 
garden. Few plants are more graceful or elegant in 
