INTRODUCTION II 



In conclusion I may suggest that " miffy " plants, 

 although many are beautiful when well grown, are not 

 indispensable to a rock garden. At the same time a 

 great deal of pleasure, as well as disappointment, may 

 be obtained in endeavouring to manage such things 

 as Eritrichium nanum, and where one is successful with 

 these difficult plants, it is with pardonable pride that he 

 wishes to exhibit his treasures. But on the whole 

 there are plenty of tractable, easily-managed plants 

 without worrying about these inhabitants from the 

 higher altitudes, which object to our lower elevation 

 and murky atmosphere. 



W. IRVING. 



Kew. 



