62 ALPINE FLOWERS AND GARDENS 



appearance of the neighbouring ground. Not that 

 there is anything remarkable in this fact of itself. 

 The remarkable thing is that on the dressed field 

 and slopes there is an almost total absence of all 

 the truer Alpines, It is useless looking here for 

 any of the blue Gentians, for instance, or for the 

 Viola, the Soldanella, the Antemiaria, or the 

 Alpine Avens. They have long since fled in 

 dismay at man's unnecessary attentions. Although 

 the Crocus does not seem to particularly mind one 

 way or the other (and it can scarcely be con- 

 sidered a pure-blooded Alpine), it is as much as 

 a few sulphur or white Anemones can do to with- 

 stand the ' comfort ' heaped upon them by civili- 

 zation. And yet, just over on the other side of 

 the boundary, there will be a wealth of Gentian, 

 Viola, and Anemone, and of a score or more of 

 other Alpines, disporting themselves in the greatest 

 happiness, and showing their disdain and repug- 

 nance for human ideas of careful luxe and kind 

 consideration. 



It is an object-lesson, and one that should be 

 borne in mind by those who attempt the culture 

 of Alpines in England. Born in hardship, as 

 children of hardship, Alpine plants have so attuned 

 themselves to harsh conditions as to make of 



