PART L] CULTURAL 43 



is hardly worth while to put them thereon. Between these 

 stones is the very place for Mountain Pinks, which thrive 

 better there than on level ground; the dwarf alpine Hair- 

 bells, while the alpine Wallflowers and creeping rock plants, 

 like the Toad Flax (Linaria), and the Spanish Erinus, are 

 quite at home there. The Gentianella does very well on 

 the cool sides of such walls, and we get a different result 

 according to the aspect. All our little pretty wall Ferns, now 

 becoming so rare where hawkers abound, thrive on such walls, 

 and the alpine Phloxes may be used, though they are not 

 so much in need of the comfort of a wall as the European 

 alpine plants, the Eocky Mountains dwarf Phloxes being very 

 hardy and enduring on level ground. The Eockfoils are charm- 

 ing on a wall, particularly the silvery and mossy kinds, and 

 the little stone-covering Sandwort (Afenaria balearica) will run 

 everywhere over such walls. Stonecrops and Houseleeks do 

 well, but are easily grown in any open spot of ground. In 

 many cases the rare and somewhat delicate alpines, if care be 

 taken, would do far better on such a wall than as they are 

 usually cultivated. Plants like the Thymes are quite free in 

 such conditions, also the alpine Violas, and any such rock 

 trailers as the blue Bindweed of North Africa. I have 

 hundreds of plants of Gentiana acaulis thriving on such walls, 

 to the surprise of all who see them in bloom. 



We have spoken of 

 "dry" walls, which are 

 necessary, apart from 

 their flower life, that 

 is to say essential, for 

 the support of banks 

 by the side of "cut- 

 tings," or where ter- 

 races are cut out of 

 steep ground; the sides 

 of steps, ascending 

 banks, and a variety of Rock plants established on an old walh 



positions which will occur in diversified and in hilly districts. 



