6 ROGK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



and vicissitudes of an English winter, when we may 

 have frost, hail, sleet, snow, and rain in one day. 



The native conditions of some high alpines, those 

 from near the snow line for example, are such that it is 

 almost impossible to imitate them in our gardens. With 

 us these plants may be suffering from drought at a time 

 when in nature they are amply supplied with moisture. 

 Nature's contrivances for the protection of alpines are 

 frequently of very varied character. Many of them are 

 thickly clad with hairs, woolly material, silvery down, 

 or a coat of farina or mealy substance, which are of the 

 utmost value on the high mountains as a protection 

 against either excessive cold or fierce heat. The dense 

 woolly covering on the flower heads of Edelweiss, the silvery 

 silk of some of the Androsaces, or the web-like hairs of 

 the Cobweb Houseleek are examples. Others, again, have 

 fleshy, succulent stems which render their acclimatisation 

 here a matter of difficulty. 



In their native habitats many alpines grow in the 

 crevices of rocks or among stones and debris. Some are 

 fully exposed to the sun during the day, yet are kept 

 moist by heavy dews at night. 



Another large class of alpine plants consists of those 

 from the mountain meadows and valleys. Some of these 

 are remarkably difficult to manage. We know, for example, 

 that it is not easy to cultivate the Spring Gentian (Gentiana 

 verna) successfully in our rock gardens, whereas many a 

 Swiss meadow glows with its intensely brilliant blue 

 flowers in spring. Later the grass grows up about the 



