PLANTING THE ROCK GARDEN 185 



In rock gardening, and in fact in all kinds 

 of gardening, the best results are frequently 

 obtained by the simplest means. The chief 

 thing to avoid is a confused mixture of many 

 brilliant colours, giving crude contrasts ; at its 

 best it has but a patchy appearance, and does 

 not give that harmony of colour which it 

 should be one's object to obtain. And the 

 beauty of the individual plant will suffer no 

 loss from a judicious blending for general 

 effect ; rather the contrary, for by a good 

 combination the individual also will be shown 

 at its best. 



Before proceeding to discuss further the 

 planting of alpine and rock plants, it would 

 perhaps be as well to explain what is meant 

 by alpine and what by rock plants, lest 

 some confusion should arise, owing to the 

 two names being often used synonymously. 

 Alpines derive their name from their original 

 home — the Alps. Rock plants, which include 

 alpines, are those collected from all parts of 

 the temperate world, be it mountain or valley, 

 which, so long as they are suitable in habit 

 and height, are used in the rock garden. 



