1 62 ROCK GARDENS 



from their mountain homes and brought to 

 an English garden. It is, unfortunately from 

 the alpines' point of view, impossible to create 

 a climate similar to what they have been 

 accustomed to ; we must therefore see how 

 best we can make up for the deficiencies by 

 artificial means. 



A study of the chief characteristics of 

 the Alpine climate will show that, when 

 compared with that of the British Isles, the 

 chief difference is in the certainty of the 

 former and the uncertainty of the latter. 



In the Alps, once the frost and snow come 

 in the autumn, they hold all nature in their 

 grip until the summer sun dispels them for 

 a few short months. 



What a contrast to this country, with its 

 wet and cold summers, its parching springs, 

 uncertain autumns and winters ! One day 

 we are frost- and snow-bound, on the next 

 revelling in misplaced summer weather, which 

 induces the tortoise-shell butterfly to disport 

 itself over the few withered remains of the 

 past summer's flowers. 



Since it is out of the question for us to 



