ALPINE FLOWERS 



[PART I. 



its lower flanks, they would in all probability perish from heat 

 and drought if their roots had not a free course to the earth 

 beneath. Even persons with some experience of plant life 

 may be seen sticking plants over such objects as these, as if 

 they were bits of metal, able to bear as many vicissitudes. The 

 fact that plants push their roots far into old walls is no justifica- 

 tion for the rustic arch as a home for alpine flowers. If the 

 cement, burrs, and clinkers permitted them even to enter it, 

 they have nothing of any kind into which to descend. There 

 is rarely an excuse for constructing such arches ; where they 

 occur, they should be clothed with Ivy or other vigorous 

 climbers. 



The sketch, made at Hammersmith, shows something of the 

 harsh, bare, and unnatural effect of structures of this sort. 



What to Avoid. 

 Rockwork in Villa at Hammersmith. 



The next scene is one in which a miniature representation 

 of various mountains is attempted. Efforts of this kind usually 

 end in the ridiculous. Let us succeed 

 with a few square yards of stony 

 mountain turf and flowers before we 

 attempt to build the mountains. 



The next illustration shows a rock- 

 work and fountain in what we may 

 call the true mixed style huge shells, 

 " cascades," and " rockwork." How 

 any such object can be conceived to 

 be in any sense ornamental is not 



What to Avoid. 



