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Rustic Adornments. 
but place the burrs for the specific object of keeping the soil in position, not 
for torming an edging. Don't let the burrs meet and form a continuous 
edging, or let their upper edge form a level surface. Now fill the nooks, 
crannies, and spaces generally between the burrs or stones with compost, and 
the rockery will be ready to receive the plants. 
The next thing to settle about is the soil or compost. For forming the back 
of a large rockery any ordinary good mould will suffice. For the nooks and 
crannies and ledges, after the burrs or stones are in position, a special mixture 
of decayed turfy loam, thoroughly well rotted manure—preferably cow-dung— 
leaf-mould, old mortar from which the finer particles have been sifted, and if 
you can get it, granite or stone chippings from a stonemason’s yard. Peat 
must be added in some cases. A layer of the foregoing compost, not less 
than six inches in depth, will be needful. A good supply of sifted mortar 
rubble, granite chippings, etc., must be kept in reserve so as to be able to 
add some more of it when planting kinds that need greater porosity in the 
soil than others. Slaked lime is frequently needful for mixing with the soil 
in which plants coming from a carboniferous habitat are to be planted, as 
some of the saxifrages, for example. If loam be difficult to obtain, good 
garden soil will do nearly as well for most kinds. We do not pin our faith 
absolutely to orthodox mixtures or proportions, as we are of opinion that 
plants can and are frequently grown successfully in soils of a diverse 
character. We firmly advocate experimenting with soils as well as positions, 
and therefore urge those who cannot command an ideal compost, to obtain 
and try the best substitute available. 
In planting see that all alpines of trailing habit, such as the White Rock 
Cress ( Arabis albida ), the Purple Rock Cress (Aubretia purpurea ), the Grom- 
wells (. Lithospermums ), pinks, and Sun roses ( Helianthemums ) are planted 
close to the inner edge of the burrs, so that the shoots may droop’over them. 
The tufted kinds—such as many of the saxifrages, erinuses, androsaces, etc., 
do best in the chinks or fissures of the rocks or burrs. To secure the plants 
firmly there mix a composition of clay and cow-dung, and use it above and 
below them to close the fissure; this will keep the plants and the soil in 
position, and afford them a certain amount of nourishment. The Sandworts 
(.Arenarias ), phloxes, ranunculus, primulus, Moonworts (So/dane/tas), Heron’s 
Bills ( Erodiums ), gentians, etc., do best in the nooks and crannies, planting 
each kind in a nook to itself. In planting these, small burrs and stones will 
be required to prevent the soil being washed away by storms. Plant tall 
