INTRODUCTION. XXXlX 



the better of the assistance of these helps. The border 

 should then be trenched, and enriched moderately with 

 some well-decomposed manure ; and any mechanical im- 

 provements necessary besides that of trenching should 

 be attended to in the process. The soil should be al- 

 lowed to consolidate a little before the replanting takes 

 place, but should not be delayed longer than is neces- 

 sary — only the delicate and small things may be left 

 under protection till spring. It may not be too unim- 

 portant for those who have the means for availing them- 

 selves of it, to say that a comfortable snuggery in the 

 shape of a little rockwork or small reserve corner, with 

 duplicates of the more valuable kinds always kept in 

 stock in it, would save much annoyance and some ex- 

 pense at all times, and especially when a general renova- 

 tion becomes necessary. 



General Culture of Alpine Plants. — The culture of the 

 plants of the higher alpine and northern regions of the 

 earth has always been attended with some difficulty in this 

 country, and will no doubt continue to be so as long as our 

 climate is insular, and so favourably influenced by the 

 Gulf Stream. Thanks to coal and glass, we can provide 

 suitable homes for the vegetable inhabitants of every 

 country that is distinguished by a higher temperature 

 than our own ; and thanks chiefly to the influence of the 

 Gulf Stream, we enjoy in the open air in perfection the 

 valuable fruits and flowers of sunnier lands, and to a 

 certain extent also we may cultivate the rare and simple 

 flowers of those'that are more frigid ; but in this direction, 

 the peculiar conditions of climate that give us such an 

 extensive range of benefits, raise up obstacles over which 

 any means in our power exerts but slight and imperfect 



