CULTIVATION. 
381 
glomerated masses of brick, or bricks artificially 
amassed with Portland cement to form miniature 
rocks, rugged cones, rough pillars, or perpendicular 
surfaces. However, when procurable, the absorbent 
and roughly quarried soft stone should enter largely into 
the composition of the rockery, as it is pre-eminently 
useful, not only in contributing so largely to the 
natural appearance of the whole, but, when the more 
delicate members of the Fern family of creeping habit 
are grown, it is invaluable in affording a moist surface 
for their tender rhizomes to cling to. It is seldom 
that wood of any kind is found of much use, as it is 
so soon reduced by decomposition, and fungi produced 
in contaminating profusion. The soil to be used in 
the rockery-house should be selected and applied 
according to the principle already given in pot- 
culture. The style of the Fem-rockery having been 
decided on and executed accordingly, the next step 
will be to arrange the plants about it ; and to carry this 
out satisfactorily is not the least difficult part of the 
whole undertaking, as it is not only essential to provide 
positions for each individual plant, but such that 
will prevent any injurious interference of its neighbour, 
either by foliage or root. 
Should the roof require support (and if not, should 
it be consistent with elegance and regularity), pillars 
composed of rough porous stone or brickwork may 
be constructed, and, if admissible, united above as 
archings, which, when clothed with the luxuriant 
foliage of scandent and pendulous Ferns, intermixed 
with the broad foliage of creeping Aroidece, growing 
from their crevices and recesses, would greatly enhance 
the beauty of the whole, and give a most accurate and 
