THE SITE 5 



discouraged, for there are many and lovely 

 plants which are not in the least difficult to 

 cultivate, and v^hich vv^ill amply repay the care 

 devoted to them. But tv^o conditions they do 

 require, light and pure air, v^hich, as w^ith all 

 plants, are essential to success, and indeed 

 I may add a third, sufficient drainage. One 

 has only to remember w^here most of these 

 treasures make their home in order to realise 

 hov^ important these factors are. 



Let us for a moment imagine ourselves on 

 some mountain slope v^here the alpines are in 

 their natural state ; where the Androsaces and 

 Saxifrages carpet the boulder-strewn ground, 

 or beautify the weather-beaten rock with their 

 dainty loveliness ; where by the tiny stream can 

 be seen the lovely Soldanellas and Ranunculus 

 and a thousand other plants to delight the 

 heart of man. Standing there, gazing around, 

 what a picture meets the eye ! The craggy 

 height above ; below, the wind-swept pines ; 

 and, far as the eye can reach, range upon range 

 of mountains with their eternal snow-capped 

 peaks glistening in the sunshine. Here is no 

 jarring note ; all is peace and quiet. Nowhere 



