54 ALPINE FLOWERS [PART I. 



at the outlet of a small spring. It was in such little bogs 

 around springs that I found the Californian Pitcher-plant in 

 dry parts of California. In some of these positions the ground 

 will often be so moist that little trouble beyond digging out a 

 hollow to give a different soil to some favourite plant will be 

 needed. Where the marsh-garden has to be made in ordinary 

 ground, and with none of the above aids, a hollow must be dug 

 to a depth of at least two feet, and filled in with any kind of 

 peat or leaf soil that may be obtainable. If no peat is at hand, 

 turfy loam with plenty of leaf -mould, etc., must do for the 

 general body of the soil ; but, as there are some plants for 

 which peat is indispensable, a small portion of the beds should 

 be of that soil. The bed should be slightly below the surface 

 of the ground, so that no rain or moisture may be lost to it. 

 There should be no puddling of the bottom, and there must be 

 a constant supply of water. This can be supplied by means of 

 a pipe in most places a pipe allowed to flow forth over some 

 firmly-tufted plant that would prevent the water from tearing 

 up the soil. 



As to planting the marsh-garden, all that is needed is to 

 put as many of the under-mentioned plants in it as can be 

 obtained, and to avoid planting in it any rapid-running sedge or 

 other plant, as in that case, all satisfaction with the garden is at 

 an end. Numbers of Carexes and like plants grow so rapidly 

 that they soon exterminate choice marsh flowers. If any roots 

 of sedges, etc., are brought in with the peat, every blade they 

 send up should be cut off with the knife just below the surface ; 

 that is, if the weed cannot be pulled up on account of being too 

 near some precious plant one does not like to disturb. All who 

 wish to grow the tall sedges and other coarse bog-plants should 

 do so by the pond-side, or in moist or watery places set apart 

 for the purpose. Given the necessary conditions as to soil 

 and water, the success of the marsh-garden will depend on 

 the continuous care bestowed in preventing rapidly growing 

 or coarse plants from exterminating others, or from taking such 

 a hold in the soil that it becomes impossible to grow any 

 small plant in it. Couch and all weeds should be exterminated 

 when very young and small. 



