PARK AND CEMETERY. 
190 
ROCK GARDEN, CITY PARK. WELLINGTON, ENG. 
Before Planting 
rock scenery, the more so because during the prelimi- 
nary work on the grounds a rather steep natural de- 
clivity was found, which seemed adapted to the loca- 
tion of such a garden. The results were so satisfac- 
tory that I propose to give a brief description of this 
work, not with any intention of presenting my own 
work as a model, but solely in the hope that the state- 
ment of my own experience may prove useful to 
others. 
The preparatory work consisted mainly in making 
the irregular surface of the grounds vastly more ir- 
regular than it was originally, partly by deep excava- 
tions and partly by filling in. As the water discharged 
from a fountain located at a considerable distance in 
the flower garden, was available and could be made to 
flow to the rock garden, a rock spring with a small 
creek and miniature falls was planned. However, as 
the supply of water is at times, and espe- 
. cially during the summer season, much less 
abundant than during the winter, it became 
< advisable to be saving in its use. No one 
i will deny that falls which abruptly precipi- 
* tate themselves over rocks, make an impos- 
I ing impression, but when the supply of 
water is so small that it will at times scarce- 
ly drip over the rocks, it is scarcely visible 
even from a short distance. Results are 
vastly different, however, when the same 
limited amount of water is made to fall in 
front of a black, or at least a very dark- 
colored, background, in front of a deep 
crevice in the rock, for instance, or a dark 
grotto. In that case every drop becomes 
visible, because the dark background makes 
the reflection of the light in the water much 
stronger. 
' : The rocky scenery was consequently ar- 
ranged in accordance with this practical 
observation, care being taken to procure a 
suitable location for the grotto by means 
of deep excavations made in the course of 
the preliminary work. 
The sketches illustrate my methods more 
in detail. The first shows a section of the 
grotto, which consists merely of brick walls. 
The opening on the top, between the walls, 
is covered with stone slabs, which are sup- 
ported at intervals by iron girders or 
beams. This roof for the grotto is covered 
by a layer of cement, which forms the bed 
of the “mountain creek’’ flowing over the 
grotto. 
Another drawing shows the ground plan 
of the grotto. The cross (x) indicates the 
location of the falls. As clearly shown 
in the sketch, the side walls form an ex- 
tension in the back part of the grotto, and 
this arrangement makes it wholly impossible to distin- 
guish the end of the latter from the outside. This 
makes the depth and underground extension of the 
grotto seem much greater than they are in fact. 
This ugly masonry is merely the unavoidable frame- 
work, and after it has been properly covered, not a 
trace of it remains visible, as is shown by the other 
illustration. 
Those who do not know how to build up the rocks 
so that they may have a natural appearance, had bet- 
ter try something else. Of all artificial productions 
there are none that afford such a miserable view as 
pieces of so-called “rock scenery’’ stiffly and unnat- 
urally arranged. Experience and a diligent study of 
nature are an absolute requirement for those who 
would construct rock scener3^ The material at hand 
ROCK GARDEN, CITY PARK, WELLINGTON. ENG. 
After Planting 
