April II, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
315 
ALPINE FLOWERS. 
Making and Planting Rockeries. 
{Concluded from page 247.) 
Foe the accommodation of plants which require a greater supply 
of moisture than is needed by the majority the base of the rock- 
work will provide suitable positions. Here some provision can be 
made by keeping the places to be occupied by the flowers a little 
below the ordinary level. For some of these plants the writer has 
the base of his rockeries on the level of the walks, several 
pockets sunk below this, and separated by a stone edging from 
the walks. 
Some very effective rockeries are made of a mound of earth 
almost oblong in form, with stones disposed irregularly about them, 
but the evil of these, as generally made, is that the stones are not 
arranged to conduct the rain which falls to, but from the plants. 
This is indeed a fault to be found in most rockeries, and the terrace 
system will, taking everything into consideration, be found the most 
In preparing stations for many plants it will be found advan¬ 
tageous to place two stones of good size in the form of the 
letter V, the point downwards, but leaving a small open space 
about an inch in width. If the plants are to be turned out of 
pots with the ball of earth attached, a little soil should be placed 
at the bottom of the V, and well pressed down so that the ball 
of earth may rest solidly on it. Any crevices left between the- 
ball and the stones should be carefully filled with earth made firm, 
care being taken that this operation is not performed when 
the soil is too damp. In planting Primulas, and a very large 
number of Alpines, this plan of fixing the plants betweei> 
the stones will be found very valuable. Plants received without 
earth attached should be planted in a very careful way. It will 
generally be found profitable to be at the trouble of placing 
these in small pots, and allowing them to remain in a frame op 
cool greenhouse for a short time, then turning them out of 
the pot with the ball of earth intact. The trouble involved in. 
this will be well repaid by the plants becoming more quickly 
Fig. 51.—express GRAPE GROWING— Vines Planted March, 1892. {See page 305.) 
{Photographed by H , Janeowski , August , 1893.) 
satisfactory for the well-being of the plants. It may, however, be 
well to say that for some time a terraced rockery will present a very 
artificial appearance, but this will disappear with the growth of the 
plants, and as the mellowing influences of time act on the stones. 
In preparing the “ pocketsfor the plants the question of a 
suitable compost will present itself. Plants with long tap roots 
which penetrate into the main body of soil of which the rockery 
is composed, are not so particular, as a rule, in the quality of their 
food, but for all choice plants suitable soil should be provided. 
For general purposes a sandy peat is very useful, but as this is 
not always obtainable a good loam with a liberal addition of leaf 
mould, well decayed, will suit the requirements of the large 
majority of plants. Those that are well known to be lime lovers, 
such as the Encrusted Saxifragas, Sedums, Houseleeks, and others, 
should have old lime rubbish or broken pieces of limestone added 
to the soil, and many plants are much benefited by a considerable 
admixture of grit. The hollows intended for plants requiring a 
large supply of moisture should have a light peaty soil, and before 
placing this in the drainage must be made good, or at least a few 
inches of stones and gravel put at the bottom to prevent the earth 
from becoming soured. 
established, and the greater vigour they will display after being 
planted out. 
In the selection of positions for the plants there is room not 
only for considerable exercise of taste, but also of judgment 
in selecting the most suitable positions for the welfare of the 
plants. Thus, such sun-loving flowers as the Stonecrops should 
have warm and sunny situations. The Primulas should gene¬ 
rally have partial shade, acd such flowers as the Mossy Saxifrages 
will do well enough in shady spots, with the exception of some 
few such as Wallacei. For plants requiring a little shade the 
divisions of the pockets can be so placed as to give them what 
they require, if provision for the requisite shelter from the 
bright sun is not afforded by the general construction of the 
rockery. 
Where trailing plants are grown provision should be made in 
the way of higher terraces or elevated portions of the rockery. In 
order that these trailing plants may completely fill the “ pocket ”■ 
they occupy, it is found, as a rule, preferable to plant them well 
back and to place flat stones between the plants and the front of 
the terrace, so that the stems may not decay from the damp earth. 
Where the crevices between the stones are numerous or unsightly 
