158 ROCK GARDENS 



great deal of drought during the latter part 

 of the year. 



In parts of the Alps, and especially in the 

 higher valleys, the ground, with scarcely a rock 

 upon it, will be found carpeted with alpine 

 flowers, just as daisies and buttercups carpet an 

 English meadow. There will be found grow- 

 ing side by side Anemone sulphurea^ Myosotis 

 alpestris^ Gentian a acaulis and verna^ Silene 

 alpestris^ Primula farinosa^ Androsace Sarmentosa 

 and obtusifolia^ Aquilegia alpina^ Pinguiculas^ 

 Ranunculus^ and a host of others, covering 

 the bare and rockless ground. Should we, 

 however, with this scene in our minds, be 

 tempted to try and reproduce the dazzling 

 picture at home, we shall only court disaster, 

 for it cannot be done, or at least it has never 

 been achieved up to the present. With us 

 it is found to be impossible to grow Silene 

 acaulis and Primula jarinosa in the same spot, 

 nor will the Pinguiculas flourish with the 

 Androsaces. And why is this ? The reason 

 is not diiBcult to discover ; it is that the Swiss 

 valleys suit all these plants equally well. 

 Moreover, there is no need of rock to pro- 



