ALPINE FLOWERS 



[PART I. 



are obtained, as they should be, by gradually receding, irregular 

 steps, rather than by abrupt " crags," walls, etc., all the plants 

 on the surface will be refreshed by rains. The upper surfaces 

 of crags and mounds should in all cases be of earth, broken 

 stones, grit, etc., as indeed should every spot where projecting 

 stones or rock are not required for the sake of effect. All 

 the soil-surfaces of the rock-garden should be protected from 

 excessive evaporation by finely broken stones, pebbles, or grit 

 scattered on the surface, or by means of small pieces of broken 

 sandstone or millstone half buried in the ground. 



If we merely want a certain surface of rock disposed in a 

 picturesque way, such details as these may not be worthy 

 of attention, but if we wish our rock-gardens to be faithful 



Well-formed Sloping Ledges. 



Artificial Rock on which Plants do not 

 Thrive. 



miniatures of those wild ones which are among the most 

 exquisite of Nature's gardens, then they are of much importance. 



In dealing with the construction of the bolder masses of 

 rockwork, we cannot have a better guide than the late Mr 

 James Backhouse, of York, who wrote: 



"Comparatively few alpines prefer or succeed well in 

 horizontal fissures. Those, however, which, like Lychnis 



