THE ROCK GARDEN I 53 



like structure, and sprinkling the whole with 

 soil, is the outcome of a misunderstanding of 

 first principles. Let us look into the matter 

 closely, and see just why our alpine plants 

 should be associated with such apparently un- 

 congenial material as stone masses. The 

 answer is clear, if we inquire as to the character 

 of their native habitat. The casual observer 

 who has wandered through the Swiss uplands 

 will have seen a wealth of plant life, jewelled 

 with gorgeous blossom, clinging apparently to 

 the bare surface of a rock, and he will have won- 

 dered how the solid stone could furnish food for 

 so luxuriant a display. Yet if he had pushed 

 his investigation carefully on the spot he would 

 have found that every plant was rooted deeply 

 in some crevice filled with soil. Here, then, 

 is the explanation. The rock is but the flower 

 pot. But it serves a very important purpose 

 as such, holding a reserve of moisture gathered 

 from the sky, and yearly collecting an ad- 

 ditional store of soil, the fine debris of the moun- 

 tain-side. Thus the plant has availed itself of 

 natural conditions eminently adapted for its 

 welfare, and therefore it flourishes. 



The rock garden is man's attempt to imitate 



