CULTIVATION i6i 



tion, lose the characteristic dwarf and stunted 

 habit they display in their native homes, is 

 that there they have not time to make much 

 growth, for within the space of perhaps three 

 or four months at the outside they have to 

 perform the whole cycle of growth — leaf, 

 stem, flower, and fruit — while at the same time 

 they are exposed to every wind. 



Nature provides for this by making the 

 typical alpine close growing, with short- 

 stemmed flowers. But when the growing 

 season is extended and plants protected from 

 exposure to wind, the flower-stems are apt to 

 become taller and the foliage more straggling 

 and rank. 



We should aim at combining and massing 



the same species together in our rock gardens 



as far as space will admit, for in nature we 



see them growing in large masses or forming 



a carpet of different kinds interwoven together ; 



and it is unnecessary to have many rocks, only 



a few here and there for the plants to get their 



roots under and around. 



• So much for the different conditions in 



which the alpines find themselves when gleaned 



II 



