50 ALPINE FLOWERS [PART I. 



TREES AND ALPINE GARDENS. 



We often see trees, more or less suitable, planted about the 

 alpine garden, and sometimes above the level of the plants. If 

 possible, this should be avoided. Although alpine and rock- 

 plants and shrubs may sometimes occur in woods, yet, as a 



general rule, the trees cease from the hills before we come to the 

 true dwarf alpine plants. If any shelter or dividing mass 

 of trees is desired near the alpine garden, the trees chosen 

 should always be mountain kinds, such as the Swiss Pine 

 (P. Cembra), Juniper, Savin (also a Juniper), dwarf rock Pine 

 (P. Montana), interspersed, if desired, with a few summer-leafing 

 northern trees, like the Beech, Birch, and Mountain Ash. The 

 Spruces and Pines of the Eocky Mountains of N.W. America 

 might also be used, " holding them together " in groups where 

 possible. 



JAPANESE DWARFED TREES FOR THE ROCK-GARDEN. 



There has been much talk of late years of these, of which 

 numbers have been brought to this country and, still more, to 

 America, some of the plants very unworthy of a place in a 

 good garden, as they too often resemble the refuse of the 

 nurseries. Among the best, however, there are some really 

 interesting things, especially plants of the Cypress tribe, which 

 occasionally retain their picturesque forms, although on such a 



