14 FLOWER-FIELDS OF ALPINE SWITZERLAND 



Dr. Percy Groom in the " General Introduction to 

 Ball's Alpine Guide," — "the region of coniferous 

 trees." Yet, at the same time, it must be clearly 

 understood that our use of the term " Alpine " 

 embraces this sub- Alpine region. 



It is absolutely necessary to start with this 

 understanding, because, in talking here — or, for 

 that matter, anywhere — of Alpine plants we shall 

 be talking much of sub -Alpine plants. After all, 

 our own gardens warrant this. Our Alpine 

 rockeries are, in point of fact, very largely sub- 

 Alpine with regard to the plants which find a 

 place upon them. As laid down in the present 

 writer's "Alpine Flowers and Gardens," it is difficult, 

 if not impossible, to draw any definite line, even 

 for the strictest of Alpine rock-gardening, between 

 Alpines and sub- Alpines. The list would indeed 

 be shorn and abbreviated which would exclude 

 all subjects not found solely above the pine-limit. 

 A ban would have to be placed upon the best 

 of the Gentians, the two Astrantias, the Paradise 

 and the Martagon Lily, to mention nothing of 

 Campanulas, Pinks, Geraniums, Phyteumas, Saxi- 

 frages, Hieraciums, and a whole host of other 

 precious and distinctive blossoms. It would never 

 do ; our rockworks would be robbed of their best 



