Design of rockwork

2270. Rockworks for effect of character require more consideration than most gardeners are aware of. The first thing is to study the character of the country, and of the strata of earthy materials, whether earth, gravel, sand, or rock, or a mere nucleus of either of these, such as they actually exist, so as to decide whether rocks may, with propriety, be introduced at all; or, if to be introduced, of what kind and to what extent. The design being thus finally fixed on, the execution is more a matter of labour than of skill.