24 ROCK AND WATER GARDENS 



taken to prevent other plants from overgrowing it ; the 

 golden blossoms appear in April above the silver leaf 

 cushions. A moist sandy soil suits it, and propagation 

 is effected by seeds or division. Other good Alpine 

 Saxifrages suitable for various positions are S. diapen- 

 sioides, media, moschata, bryoides and squarrosa. 



In the arrangement of garden pictures, flower masses 

 must be relieved by the introduction of foliage plants. 

 Fortunately the Alps are by no means lacking in suitable 

 flora for this purpose. Many ferns and small native 

 shrubs are available, and by forming a groundwork 

 for bright colour masses, enable the composition of 

 beautiful pictures. 



The cool, deep green of the Spleenwort Ferns affords 

 a happy contrast to the rich blues and dead whites of 

 Gentian and Saxifrage. Two good kinds are Asplenium 

 germanicum and A. Selosii. The Shield Ferns (Aspidium), 

 which include also the Polystichum, are many of them 

 perfectly hardy, requiring, however, abundant water 

 during the hot weather. Montanum is a true Swiss 

 variety. Between low masses of rock, small clumps of 

 Woodsia look beautiful, especially when the stones are 

 mantled with Sedums and vivid mosses. A slightly 

 peaty soil suits them best, and they require plenty of 

 water. W. hyperborea and W. ilvensis are especially 

 suitable. In shady corners where the drainage is perfect 

 the Bladder Ferns (Cystopteris) soon make themselves at 

 home. C. alpina, one of the smallest, is also one of the 

 best. Lomaria Spicant and the hardy Cheilanthes are 

 other precious ferns for the garden of Alpines. 



Though none will deny the beauty and diversity of 

 the plant families which make the Swiss pastures and 

 lower Alps veritable gardens of Nature, yet the true 

 charm of Alpine flowers is only felt when we ascend to 

 the region of ice and snow. Here at last we realise " the 

 powerful grace that lies in herbs." Dull and unimagina- 



