380 
FERNS : BRITISH AND FOREIGN. 
arranged in any part of the house, and are readily 
detached and again fixed at another point when found 
necessary. The first deposit for the rockery should 
be rough and somewhat absorbent, such as irregular 
brickbats, masses of stone, loosely disposed to admit 
of a ready dissemination of the heat amongst its 
parts, and then follow with the material proper. 
Apertures for the escape of the heat should be con- 
structed at frequent intervals, drain-pipes being very 
suitable for this purpose, which, by the mass being kept 
properly moist, will allow the heated air to circulate 
in a congenial steamy condition throughout the house. 
In the design and arrangement of the principal 
mass of material composing the rockwork, it is, as in 
the design of the house, a good deal a matter of taste 
and convenience as regards size; whether in repre- 
senting in miniature a rugged mountain side, or deep 
glen, with its clear pool, reflecting the elegant forms 
of the Ferns growing near it; or may be a miniature 
valley, with undulating surfaces gradually rising on 
either side, with projecting rocks. There are nu- 
merous kinds of material more or less suitable for 
constructing a rockeiy either indoors or out, and but 
a few localities where some of these may not be easily 
procured. The chief desideratum is to have such that 
is of porous consistence, and generally with rough 
and ragged surfaces. It is useless to be particular in 
the selection of various kinds of stone on account ot 
their fine quality, either in texture or colour ; for where 
Ferns properly thrive all such will be speedily obscured 
by their luxuriant growth ; consequently any brick- 
field affords very good material that would contribute 
largely in the general structure, in the way of con- 
