18 
Edward Gillett, Southwick, Mass. — Rock-Garden 
The Hardy Rock-Garden 
FOR A MOIST SHADY PLACE 
The Rock-Garden possesses great possibilities. To those who love the dainty ferns and 
plants such a garden affords a constant source of pleasure. In it can be planted a larger 
variety of ferns and plants than in the ordinary garden of the same proportions. All the 
early spring flowers in a rock-garden make a better display and produce a naturalness which 
can not be produced in the ordinary flower bed. The Construction of a rock-garden is very 
simple. Select a location in a shady place, where the ground has ordinary moisture. Begin 
at the bottom and build up (do not throw together a heap of stones and then cover with 
earth). Each boulder should be placed so as to allow moisture from rains to run into the 
garden, not away from it. After placing a boulder fill around it with earth, being sure that 
there are no spaces unfilled, as air spaces will prevent moisture from coming up from below. 
The top of a rock-garden must have direct contact with the ground by w*ay of firm earth in 
order to allow the moisture to work up among the stones and give the proper conditions for 
growing rock plants. It is not necessary to build a rock-garden more than eight or ten 
inches above the surrounding level. The size and shape of such a garden rests with the 
individual taste. 
The Soil in which the plants are directly planted should be rich wood soil. The main 
body of the rock-garden can be ordinary garden soil, yet to obtain the best results the top 
soil should be rich wood dirt. Many native plants can be grown in wood soil with fine 
results, where they fail to give satisfaction when grown in garden soil. 
It is impossible to give explicit directions for making such a garden, which will cover 
all needs, yet I will be very glad to advise any one who may contemplate the building of 
such a garden, giving specific directions as may be necessary. 
If one so desires, I will send a competent representative to lay out and plan a rock- 
garden; terms given on application. 
Following is a list of the more desirable native ferns and flowers best suited for rock 
work in shade. 
Ferns (for descriptions see Ferns). 
Adiantum pedatum, 12 to 15 inches. 
Aspidium aculeatum Braunii, 12 to 15 in. 
Aspidium cristatum, 12 inches. 
Aspidium Felix-mas, 12 to 24 inches. 
Aspidium marginale, 12 to 24 inches. 
Aspidium munitum, 12 to 15 inches. 
Aspidium spinulosum, 12 to 18 inches. 
Asplenium ebeneum, 6 to 12 inches. 
Asplenium Trichomanes, 3 to 6 inches. 
Camptosorus rhizophyllus (prostrate) 
Cryptogramma acrostichoides, 6 to 8 inches. 
Cystopteris bulbifera, 6 to 12 inches. 
Cystopteris fragilis, 6 to 8 inches. 
Osmunda regalis, 18 to 36 inches. 
Osmunda claytoniana, 2 to 3 feet. 
Pellaga densa, 4 to 8 inches. 
Pellsea atropurpurea, 4 to 8 inches. 
Phegopteris hexagonoptera, 8 to 12 inches. 
Phegopteris polypodioides, 8 to 12 inches. 
Phegopteris Dryopteris, 6 to 10 inches. 
Polypodium vulgare, 4 to 10 inches. 
Polypodium falcatum, 4 to 10 inches. 
Scolopendrium vulgare, 8 to 12 inches. 
Woodsia obtusa, 6 to 12 inches. 
Woodsia Ilvensis, 4 to 8 inches. 
Flowering plants (see herbaceous plants 
for descriptions). 
Actaea alba, 12 to 24 inches. 
Actaea rubra, 12 to 24 inches. 
Anemone Pennsylvania, 12 inches. 
Aquilegia Canadensis, 8 to 12 inches. 
Arisaema triphyllum, 12 to 18 inches. 
Asarum Canadense, 4 to 6 inches. 
Asarum Virginicum, 4 to 6 inches. 
Aster cordifolia, 18 to 24 inches. 
Aster patens, 18 to 24 inches. 
Aster undulatus, 18 to 30 inches. 
Aster corymbosus, 18 to 30 inches. 
Baptisia tinctoria, 12 to 24 inches. 
Campanula rotundifolia, 12 to 18 inches. 
Caulophyllum thalictroides, 12 to 18 inches 
Chimaphila Maculata, 3 to 6 inches. 
Cimicifuga racemosa, 2 to 4 feet. 
Claytonia Virginica, 3 to 5 inches. 
Claytonia Caroliniana, 3 to 5 inches. 
Dalibarda repens, 2 to 4 inches. 
Dentaria diphylla, 4 to 8 inches. 
Dicentra cucullaria, 4 to 8 inches. 
Erythronium Americanum, 6 inches. 
Erythronium albidum, 6 inches. 
Eupatorium ageratoides, 18 to 36 inches. 
Euphorbia corollata, 18 to 36 inches. 
Galax aphylla, 6 to 8 inches. 
Gentiana Andrewsii, 12 to 24 inches. 
Geranium Robertianum, 6 to 12 inches 
Hepatica acutiloba, 4 to 6 inches. 
Hepatica triloba, 4 to 6 inches. 
Heuchera Americana, 8 to 12 inches 
Houstonia cagrulea, 2 to 3 inches. 
Houstonia purpurea, 2 to 4 inches 
Hydrastis Canadensis, 3 to 6 inches. 
Iris cristata, 4 to 8 inches. 
Iris verna, 4 to 8 inches. 
Lilium Philadelphicum, 12 to 24 inches. 
Lobelia cardinalis, 18 to 36 inches. 
Lobelia syphilitica, 18 to 30 inches. 
See cut on next page of a rock-garden in dry soil in the open sun. 
I plant Rock-Gardens. Write for terms. 
