CHAPTER XXIV. 



ALPINE PLANTS. 



Among the great number of plants, which are acceptable for Window Garden- 

 ing, we rind the Alpine plant is one of the least cultivated for this purpose. 

 On account of the interesting shape of most of these plants and the tiny spaw 

 required for them by their pygmy appearance, they ought to take the main 

 part of the so said Lilliput Gardening. How is it, that even our nurserymen 

 lack a good deal of the true Alpine plants in their collection of plants, and 

 are in some ways to blame for the want of them amongst our decorated win- 

 dows? The answer is easily found. It is the fault of the present fashion. 

 Gardeners supply their customers rather with Coleus, Verbenas, Pelargoniums, 

 Heliotropes and other bedding plants, than with the exquisite fine Alpine plants, 

 which, of course, cannot be propagated in so short a time as common bedding 

 plants. The public is mostly satisfied with the latter plants, believing that the 

 culture of Alpine plants is one of great difficulty. 



Most of all who have seen these beautiful, modest plants, with their vividness 

 of color, displayed in endless variety in perfect loveliness on the fringes 

 of the glaciers, near steep crevices or ghastly slopes, or in elevated plains 

 and pastures, in Switzerland, Tyrol and Savoy, have learned to love and 

 cherish the sweet flowers, and would like to grow them in their own home. For- 

 merly, when cultivation of Alpine plants was accomplished only in botanical 

 gardens, many difficulties arose; but now, after much patience, experience and 

 experiments, made with all kinds of these plants, the general error, that the 

 true Alpine plants only grow on high mountains in a cool temperature, has thus 

 been dispelled. It is a fact, that many Alpine plants which are found plenti- 

 fully on elevated plains or near glaciers, do often grow and flower in valleys or 

 lowland regions. Such are, for instance : Gentiana bavarica and verna, Dryas 

 octopetala, Mcehringia muscosa, Silene acaulis, Soldanella alpina y and several 

 various kinds of Saxifraga. Some again, found near slopes or crevices, grow 

 well in pots. Such are : Gnaphaliumleontopodium, (Leontvpodium Alpinum), 

 various kinds of Primulas, Primula Cortusoides and Acaulis, Aster Alpinus, 

 Ramondia Pyrenaica, all Alpine. Sedum and Sempervivum, Saxifraga umbrosa, 

 Pyramidalis. Others, which are met within sight of or among fields of snow, 

 or in places beyond our reach, are very difficult to cultivate, and therefore not 

 fit for window decoration. We mention especially several kinds of Saxifragen; 

 some Androsacen, Draba frigida Silene glacialis, Dinnthus glacial-is, Ran- 

 nunculus glacialis, and others. Of Alpine, plants, can be used those for Win* 



