88 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
hardiest of common herbaceous plants can 
hold their own on them, until they are sur¬ 
rounded with shelter-belts of shrubs and 
trees. 
The “ pocket ” system, alluded to, is useful 
where a mixed system of planting is adopted. 
Otherwise, the strong-growing plants spread 
over the weaker, or rarer ones, and so cause 
much labour and other inconvenience. Where 
the rockery is large, provision may be made for 
plants of all kinds. Thus a portion may be 
made with loamy earth, or with peat and leaf- 
mould. Then, again, limestone is most suitable 
for some plants, granite and sandstone for 
others. No matter how a rockery be made, the 
object for which it is intended must always be 
borne in mind. If it is for plant-culture, 
adapt it for their requirements throughout. 
The rule-ordinary of most rockery-makers is to 
produce masses of stone or stucco work in the 
“ picturesque ” manner, without a thought of 
plants. I remember a brand-new rockery being 
u built ” in the Shires by a local architect, who 
some time afterwards brought some friends of 
his own profession to look at it. They came 
to worship picturesque stones, but went away 
grumbling because “ an old fool of a gardener ” 
had covered them with “ a lot of beastly 
creepersand so some other builders of rock- 
work are not a little wrath, if the “ fool of a 
gardener ” hides their stonework with plants. 
Another fallacy which has long enough 
existed in connection with Alpine and rock 
plants is that poor or ordinary earth is the best 
for them. Actual manurial stimulants are not 
quite as essential for mountain plants or for 
flowering herbaceous things as for Cabbages or 
Rhubarb; but the best of loam or peat should 
be afforded them, if anything more than 
mediocre growth and inflorescence be desired. 
Mr. II. C. Hart, in his notes on the Saxifrages, 
Dryas, Poppies, &c., of the Arctic regions, is 
especially careful to point out that the most 
luxuriant patches of those hardy blossoms, 
which approach nearly to the North Pole, are 
found near aukeries or bird-cliffs, or amongst 
the former old fire-places and other debris of 
the old Esquimaux settlements. Those about 
to begin the cultivation of rock-plants would 
do well to commence with the more common 
strong-growing plants first, adding rarities and 
delicate things as experience is gained. 
The loamy portion of a rock-garden may be 
made attractive with Dentarias pink and 
white, Primulas of all sorts, Aubrietias, Litho- 
spermums, Hepaticas, Snowdrops, Crocuses, 
Snowflakes, and the vernal Squills. The dwarf 
Phloxes make excellent rock-plants ; so do the 
Saxifrages and Sedums. One of the prettiest 
effects I ever saw in rock-gardening was 
obtained by carpeting the ground and stones 
with Sedum acre aureum. Scilla sibirica, 
Narcissus Bulbocodium, N. Horsefieldii, and 
Primula rosea had previously been planted, 
and these, peering through, produced a lovely 
April effect. 
The more shady portion of a rockery may 
often be formed of peaty soil, and then car¬ 
peted with Linnsea borealis, Cornus suecica, 
Menziesia polifolia, Erica carnea, and other 
dwarf shrubs, amongst which Trilliums, 
Lobelia ignea and L. cardinalis. Primula 
japonica, and even such large subjects as 
Lilium auratum and the American Bog Lilies, 
may be planted with success. Last autumn 
we had Anemone japonica alba five feet in 
height, in a shady peat rock-garden, and the 
effect of Lilium longiflorum Wilsoni near a 
clump of Lobelia ignea was also very brilliant. 
The dwarf-growing Campanulas, again, are 
excellent rock-plants, as also are some neat¬ 
growing annuals, such as Androsace lactea, 
Ionopsidium acaule, Papaver aurantiacum and 
its variety, P. alpinum, the Night-scented 
Stock, and Schizopetalon Walkeri.—F. W. B. 
WINTER PROPAGATION OF 
EOSES. 
OME persons may consider this to be a 
doubtful process, and I daresay there are 
many who never saw it done ; while not 
a few who may practise the budding of Roses in 
summer with a fair amount of success, might 
find this method rather difficult to accomplish. 
But it can be, and is, done every winter to the 
extent of many thousands of plants in Mr. 
Smith’s Nursery at Worcester; and now that 
the frost has made such inroads amongst the 
Roses, it is interesting to know that during 
the severe frost, this operation was going on. 
In this establishment, they generally begin 
the grafting of Roses in November, and per¬ 
haps keep on at it for four months or more. 
The propagating house for Roses is a span- 
