NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 165 



The alpine plants are more difficult to grow, but it has 

 been proved that when a suitable place is chosen for them 

 that they soon establish themselves. These gems from the 

 mountain, if shaded from the sun and sheltered from hot 

 winds, grow freely among stones in a peaty soil. Those 

 who wish to grow the fine Ranunculus Lyalli, Celmisias, 

 Aciphyuas, and other alpine plants should make a rockery 

 in a shady place, and if a small fountain could be arranged 

 in the centre to keep the plants moist in hot weather, success 

 would be certain. Small patches of the Raoulias, Pratias, and 

 Wahlenbergias, which can be easily collected in the river beds, 

 would soon cover the rockwork and help to keep the ground 

 in that cool condition which all alpine plants love. In a rock- 

 work of this description the spear grasses are at home, and the 

 Celmisias soon grow into large specimens, which never fail 

 to throw up their bold, aster-like bloom. In short, a collec- 

 tion of alpines is a never-ending source of interest ; and 

 looking forward to the time when the railway will pass 

 through the heart of the ranges, the collection of the plants 

 will be a great source of pleasure and relaxation. 



