ALPINE FLOWERS 



PAKT I 



CULTURAL. 



IN treating of the culture of alpine plants, the first considera- 

 tion is that much difference exists among them as regards con- 

 stitution and vigour. We have, on the one hand, many plants 

 that merely require to be sown or planted in the simplest way 

 to flourish Arabis and Aubrietia for example; but, on the 

 other, there are many kinds, like the Primulas of the high Alps, 

 with many of their companions, which demand some thought 

 and care. Nearly the whole of the misfortunes which these 

 little plants have met with in our gardens are to be attributed 

 to the usual conception of what a rock-garden ought to be, and 

 of what the alpine plant requires. These plants live on high 

 mountains ; therefore it is erroneously thought they will do best 

 in our gardens if planted on such ugly heaps of stones and 

 brick rubbish as we frequently see piled up and dignified by 

 the name of "rockwork." Eocks are often "bare," and cliffs 

 are devoid of soil ; but we must not conclude from this that the 



A 



