432 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
garden. But if we can make choice of a situation where a 
rocky bank or knoll already partially exists, or would be in 
keeping with the form of the ground and the character of 
the scene, then we may introduce such accompaniments 
with the best possible hope of success. 
It often happens in a place of considerable extent, that 
somewhere in conducting the walks through the grounds, 
we meet with a ridge with a small rocky face, or perhaps 
with a large rugged single rock, or a bank where rocky 
summits just protrude themselves through the surface. The 
common feeling against such uncouth objects, would direct 
them to be cleared away at once out of sight. But let us take 
the case of the large rugged rock, and commence our pictu- 
resque operations upon it. We will begin by collecting from 
some rocky hill or valley in the neighbourhood of the estate, 
a sufficient quantity of rugged rocks, in size from a few 
pounds to half a ton or more, if necessary, preferring always 
such as are already coated with mosses and lichens. These 
we will assemble around the base of the large rock, in an 
irregular somewhat pyramidal group, bedding them some- 
times partially, sometimes almost entirely in soil heaped in 
irregular piles around the rock. The rocks must be arranged 
in a natural manner, avoiding all regularity and appearance 
of formal art, but placing them sometimes in groups of half 
a dozen together, overhanging each other, and sometimes half 
bedded in the soil, and a little distance apart. There are no 
rules to be given for such operations, but the study of natu- 
ral groups, of a character similar to that "which we wish to 
produce, will afford sufficient hints if the artist is 
“ Prodigue de genie,” 
and has a perception of the natural beauty which he desires 
to imitate. 
