60 ALPINE FLOWERS AND GARDENS 



This is an extreme, but by no means rare, 

 instance of those conditions which compel Alpines 

 to be as they are — for the most part all root and 

 flower. Small occasion have they for the elabora- 

 tion of much foliage. Nor is it to their advantage 

 to attempt much show in that direction. This is 

 the region, if there be any such particular region 

 in wild Nature, of concentrated efficiency : a region 

 where all energy is entirely practical : a region 

 where the scarcity of humidity and the frequent 

 occurrence of tempests, the presence of a most 

 ' personal ' sun during the day and of very keen 

 frost during the night, renders the striving after 

 great stature and much foliage a positive madness. 

 But if anywhere in this world unadulterated sanity 

 reigns, it is here ; here, if nowhere else, the one 

 absorbing interest is in keeping an ever open and 

 alert eye on the main chance, and in employing 

 such chance without hesitation. 



And happiness is the outcome — as complete and 

 real a happiness as is to be found in this world of 

 unsatisfied satisfaction. Give these plants more 

 ' comforts ' — such conditions as we look upon as 

 ' home comforts ' — and we at once upset their 

 happiness. ' Home comforts ' they have in abun- 

 dance. A winter of nine months spent under snow, 



