The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-07-19
Rock work and Alpine Plants.

glarlng white with hme-wash, and
built up into grotesque form unlike
ever seen in nature, is often i.
by the name Of rock-work. ,
This mass is, in the building provi-
ded with pockets" to hold quart
or so of earth, and in these are plant ,
ed Tropaolums, Scarlet Geraniums'
and other bedding plants, which, in
our hot summers, present q sorry
spectacle, having no deepness of
earth. A structure of this kind OBJ
truding itself in conspicuous place
in the lawn, is one of those horrors
one is forced to witness in his trav-
els. In spite Of this sham work,
rock can be constructed in @
manner that will be in good taste and
afford much pleasure. There are
some places in which rock-work may
be properly introduced as feature
of the landscape; but our purpose is
to speak of it as place for growing
such plants as will grow better upon
rocks than elsewhere, us well rs some
that cannot be grown at all in the
open border. No one but real low
er of plants will ever undertake a
rock-work, as the plants which are
most at home in such situations are
usually delicate subjects that COM
mend themselves to our attention by
their modest beauty rather than by
theii brilliancy. Certain plants are
found growing naturally only upon
rocks, where their foliage can spread
, itself to the sun while their roots run
, down through the earth-filled crew
ices of the rocks into the deep cool
soil far below This is particularly
. the case with plants growing in Al
pine regions, and such can only be
= cultivated with success where the
natural conditions are Observed
Other plants seem to flourish bette,
among loose stones, which probably
: act as a mulch. What are called
o ssAlpine Plants" are now becoming
- popular in England, though we mus
y confess that the term ."Alpine" i
y. made to include great number
>, things that have no mountain origin
" We have already noticed Mr. Robin
" sons work, "Alpine Flowers for Brit
~ y, ish Gardens" q reference to its lis
'i' of plants will show that the teri
"Alpine" is used in very comprf
w hensive sense. In the work referre
" to, the author gives several illustr;
~, :, lions of artificial rock-work. The
~ should not be built up like a ston'
- wall, but the stones should be place
~ 81 so as to appear as if they belonge
- there. Whatever creyices are lie
;" for the accommodation of plants
AZ and there should be sufficiency
ne, these-should be continuous I'M
Nv ~, they reach the earth. In cases whe
~ elevated masses of rock-work
Gu built up, the same precaution Of kee
GOV ing open communication with t
ms, earth below, is to be observed.
'ou course, rock work can be made
tns any dimensions. according to t
'eo means and tastes Of the builder; /
' fortunately it is not necessary to VIC
Wv on large scale, as small rocky /
'a.e can be made with little trouble a
'ui expense, which will grow Alp
y ,on' plants in a very satisfactory mann
ice A bed excavated to the depth of abb
'ol { two feet, is to be filled in with pc
ac- soil and leaf mold; stones of differ
sizes are placed around the mar
to raise the bed above the gene
nre lovel: more soil is to be addod'
al small and large stones are SO pla
hey as to crop out from the soil. A
urse of this kind may be made in a
,e is tired part of the garden, and serve
y as the home of many choice, Alpl
| &C -TAmerican Agriculturalist.