BUILD A ROCKERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 466, 22 September 1928, Page 30

BUILD A ROCKERY

EVERLASTING SOURCE OF PLEASURE

Rockeries are fast becoming popular in the suburban home plots, and the delights and interests emanating from this particular form of gardening are both varied and fascinating. During recent years great advancement has been achieved in their construction, and the modern rockery may now be regarded not only as an object of beauty, but a decided acquisition to the home grounds. We are quite aware of the fact that there are many homes that could never beast of a garden in the true sense of the word, but would naturally lend themslves admirably for transformation into an appealing and attractive rockery scheme, ablaze with plants that would harmonise with the surround ings in question, and add considerably to the value and beauty of the home. The value of well arranged rockeries cannot be over-estimated. There is always some corner, or other portion of the garden, which lends itself to the formation of natural-looking combinations of roekwork and suitable plant life. Where the natural slopes of the ground are steep it becomes necessary to terrace with roekwork, and some exceedingly bautiful and distinctive effects are created by persons with artistic ideas. It is to help the home gardener to lay out his own rockeries that these few hints are written. It would be impossible to lay down any fixed rule or design —the general character and size of the ground must to a large degree decide the lay out —but it should be remembered that it is desirable to keep to a natural-looking plan, and not to stand the stones up regularly, like so many soldiers standing at attention. TJsp roughlooking rocks, and vary the sizes and shapes as much as posisble, so as to create a rather rugged finish, which will be natural looking, and help the better to display the plants to advan tage.

The soil for rockeries should be fairly light, and should be enriched at first with a liberal supply of old, well rotten cow manure, to assure that healthy, sturdy growth so desirable..