CHAPTER VI 



THE ALPINE HOUSE 



A GOOD example of the simplest form of the unheated green- 

 house is to be found in the Alpine House at Kew. It is 

 nothing more than a low span-roofed glass-house, 40 ft. 

 long by 9 ft. wide, with flat stages on each side of a 

 narrow gangway, and has no heating apparatus of any kind. It 

 is provided, however, with shading to temper sun-heat, should 

 it prove too powerful, as it often does, in early spring. Here, 

 throughout the winter and spring months, a succession of low- 

 growing plants and bulbs indigenous to the alpine districts of 

 all parts of the globe may be seen in happier circumstances 

 and in better flower than would be possible out of doors in 

 our changeful climate. A large proportion of such plants 

 perfect their growth rapidly during the short but strong summer 

 heat of their native habitats, and are almost ready to burst into 

 flower again when their progress is arrested, sometimes quite 

 early in autumn, by a thick fall of snow which tucks them up 

 safely for their long winter sleep. Months later, when the 

 snows melt and there is no more danger to fear, they have 

 little more to do than to open their bright eyes upon the 

 world new-clad in greenery. Any one who has had experience, 

 for example, of a Canadian spring, will understand the sudden 

 transformation from the winter shroud of snow to gay, green 

 woods and plains enamelled with flowers. Transplant the 

 denizens of such climates to our seagirt Britain and, so far 

 from being happier, they are sore bewildered and tried beyond 



