ROCK-GARDENS 
M odern gardens, 
large or small, surely 
have some place where Alpine 
plants will thrive. If nature 
has not provided an ideal spot 
the ingenious gardener can 
easily furnish the essentials 
of rocks and soil. 
Rock-gardens will express 
your “garden personality.” 
You are not bound to follow 
a formal plan. You can ar¬ 
range the Alpines to suit your 
own sweet will. You can 
select the families or varieties 
that you admire and want 
to live with. 
Simple Rules for Building a Rock-Garden 
1 ET us first make the statement that a 
“rockery” is not a rock-garden. A rockery is 
—i only a pile of stones, or may be a circle of 
stones with a little soil poured over the pile or 
dumped in the circle. 
A rock-garden is a naturalistic 
arrangement, but nature never 
throws things around haphazard. 
Therefore make a definite plan 
for your garden, and don’t throw 
the stones in a helter-skelter heap. 
Select a location that is clean, 
in the open, and where the plants 
may get the sun most of the day. 
The best place is on a bank slop¬ 
ing down from the lawn; the second choice may 
be in a corner, or at the edge of the lawn. The 
rock-garden might be placed at the side oi steps 
leading from one level to another. Never place 
it in the center of an open lawn. If it must be near 
the house, it is wise to use a screen of shrubbery. 
Use rocks from your own neighborhood if you 
can get them. Do not use 
artificial material. Moss- 
coverecI stones are ideal, £ _c 
and any size and shape can 
be used. 
Place the largest stones 
with the flat side on the 
ground. Fill crevices, and 
Fig. 2. Small stones in place 
level to top of the stones, with good soil, 
watering thoroughly to make it settle. Proceed 
with a second layer of stones, setting back to form 
a slope as in Fig. 1. Continue this process until the 
required height is reached. Not less than 3 inches 
of soil should be available be¬ 
tween the stones. Small stones 
may be placed between the large 
ones, as in Fig. 2. Fet the stones 
incline to the back, and be sure 
they are surrounded by soil. 
You are now ready for the 
plants. Make your selection from 
this list. At the end of two 
seasons the soil should be covered, 
but the stones should never be over¬ 
run with plants. For best effect it 
is better to have many 
plants of a few varieties 
rather than a 
few plants of 
many kinds. 
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Fig. 1. Building a Rock-Garden 
=•«- 
E. C. ROBBINS, Ashford, N. Carolina 
i Complete Catalogue Will Be Mailed on Request 
