152 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



The gentianella does very well on the cool sides of such walls, and 

 we get a different result according to the aspect. All our little pretty 

 wall ferns, now becoming so rare where hawkers abound, do perfectly 

 on such rough walls, and the alpine Phloxes may be used, though 

 they are not so much in need of the comfort of a wall as the European 

 alpine plants, the Rocky Mountain dwarf Phloxes being very hardy 

 and enduring in our gardens on level ground. The advantage of the 

 wall is that we can grow things that would perish on level ground, 

 owing to excitement of growth in winter, or other causes. The Rock- 

 foils are charming on a wall, particularly the silvery kinds, and the 

 little stone covering sandwort (A. balearica) will run everywhere over 

 such a wall. Stonecrops and Houseleeks would do too, but are easily 

 grown in any open spot of ground. In many cases the rare and 

 somewhat delicate Alpines, if care be taken in planting, would do far 

 better on such a wall than as they are usually cultivated. Plants like 

 Thymes are quite free in such conditions, though it may be too free 

 for the rare kinds ; also the Alpine Violas, and any such pretty 

 rock creepers as the blue Bindweed of North Africa. 



There is in fact no limit to the beauty of rock and alpine flowers 

 we may enjoy on the rough wall so often and most easily made 

 about gardens in rocky and hilly districts, dressed or expensive 

 stone not being needed. In my own garden there are three wholly 

 different kinds of walls thick set with plants ; and the easiest way to 

 the enjoyment of the most interesting and charming of the mountain 

 flowers of the north is by the aid of walls. 



ALPINE AND ROCK-PLANTS FOR BRITISH GARDENS. 



Where the name of a large and varied family z's given, as in Phlox, Iris^ 

 Rhododendron, Pentstemon, Salix, Antirrhinum, it is the alpine, or dwarf mountain 

 kinds, that are meant. 



