Question
what is the most efficient way to treat "soil" composed of rock and clay? The clay does not drain very well. I hear gypsum helps break down the clay into real soil? I've also been told mixing peat moss is the best? I am very anxious to begin planting but with the clay issue, everything I have tried so for ends up in bad shape. When I dig down, the roots are rotting due to no drainange.

Answer
Hi Robert, In areas of really poor drainage, the best solution to elevate the beds.  Incorporate 4"- 6" of coarse organic matter such as fine pine bark, leaf mold or cotton burr compost into the top 8" to 10" of your clay. This raises your root zone above your soil line so gravity helps pull water down, leaving the root zone with more air than water.  In times of drought, you'll have to water more because elevated beds will dry quicker, but you will be able to grow plants that don't like the solid clay soil and poor drainage.  
If raising the bed is not an option, then you must re-think your choice of plants.  There are many plants that grow quite well in heavy clay soil, so get with your local nurserymen who can recommend plants better suited for your area.
I'm not a big fan of peat moss.  When it's wet, it holds a lot of water.  When it's dry, it's difficult to re-wet and where I live, it's much more expensive than pine bark.
I just look to the woods to see how Mother Nature builds soil...bark, sticks, leaves...good plan!
Mixing gypsum into the soil doesn't help much either.
Clay is good.  It has great water and nutrient retention properties, it just needs to be loosened (by tilling) and by adding coarse organic matter, you give the roots an easy pathway through the soil and the airspace needed for non-native plants.  Jim