ROCKERIES AND FERNS. 
73 
like a sort of Absalom’s pillar at which every passer-by has 
had his fling. The rocks should harmonize with the charac¬ 
ter of the surrounding country, and should be arranged as 
naturally as possible, forming a sort of outside crust filled 
in with earth, and with plenty of earth in all the pockets 
or crevices. The shape is a matter of taste, but an ir¬ 
regular outline is more natural and effective. 
A very small rockery requires more care and judgment 
in its construction than a larger one, and is the only kind 
admissible in a limited space. It should never be made a 
central or prominent object, but is intended to be come 
upon unexpectedly. A terraced arrangement looks well, 
and affords particular advantages for the disposition of 
plants. The larger stones, as , a general thing, should be 
placed at the base, but a large, rough fragment of granite 
makes a very artistic finish at the top for the support of a 
creeper of vivid green or blazing autumn scarlet. 
In planting a rockery, all plants but low-growing ones 
and tufts of fern should be avoided. Those of a stiff, up¬ 
right nature are particularly undesirable, and simple, wild 
things are more generally adapted to this style of cultiva¬ 
tion. There is so much beauty in the partridge-vine, wood 
ferns, trailing arbutus, hepatica, etc., that almost any piece 
of woodland will abundantly stock a very tasteful rockery, 
but Yirginia-creeper, with its rich October blushes, ivy, 
tradescantha, moneywort, and many others on the florist’s 
list, are not to be objected to in addition. The alpine 
family of plants seem made especially for such purposes. 
They require plenty of soil for their wandering roots, and 
are best satisfied with a sandy loam. Perfect drainage and 
a reasonable amount of moisture are also necessary to their 
well-being. 
With these requirements answered, the following deli¬ 
cate bloomers will make any rockery a thing of beauty : 
NEthionema cordifolium , with silvery leaves and plenty 
