GENERAL INTRODUCTION 25 1 



purpurea, etc. Others, e. g. Omphaloses Lucilix, Jlrmeria 

 c&spitosa, are as fine as at FJoraire in spite of a more 

 unsuitable climate, and it is only the highest Androsaces 

 which do not succeed under the magic wand of the 

 Professor. 



Reference was made at the close of the last section to 

 the Norman Tower rock-garden at Windsor Castle 

 created by General Probyn. It was much appreciated by 

 the late King and by Queen Alexandra, and 1 am delighted 

 to know that King George has graciously consented to 

 make no change as to its maintenance. Of this interesting 

 and tasteful garden one sees only a portion on the right 

 from the road mounting to the Court of Honour, below 

 the retaining wall. To appreciate its merits in full one 

 must roam over the side-paths (strict privacy, however, is 

 maintained) and know all the twists and turns and corners. 

 Here at the foot of the Castle, in chinks of walls and 

 artificial rock-work, may be found some of our most 

 delicate alpine plants. They were, without exception, 

 sent out from Floraire and 1 can appreciate their worth, 

 inasmuch as 1 inspect the garden every spring. The 

 collection is to-day a notable one in all respects and a 

 word of praise is due to the gardener in charge. 



In many alpine countries nature has facilitated the 

 construction of beautiful alpine gardens. These are very 

 different from the English types above described, and 

 have cost Jess trouble and are easily established. 



The one known as the "Linmea, at Bourg-Saint-Pierre 

 (1700 m.) was founded in 1889 by the Society for the 

 Preservation of Plants. It occupies an isolated, fully ex- 

 posed hummock, eight to nine acres in extent. Paths run 

 in every direction, and there are numerous natural and 

 artificial rocks, assigned to the flora of the different moun- 

 tains of the world. The plants are classed geographically, 

 and the whole effect is very picturesque. Chalk-hating 



