30 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



success, to show the saHent features of Alpine garden- 

 ing. We see ridge, cleft and hollow. We see the 

 stone-lovers clinging to the rocks and the bog plants 

 clustering in damp bays. We see good and interest- 

 ing species of the principal mountain genera. 



Some of the most interesting examples of rock 

 gardening are to be found in the gardens of amateurs. 

 These are not accessible to the general pubUc, but it 

 is not often that a flower-lover seeking admission to a 

 garden in his neighbourhood for the sake of acquiring 

 information fails to find a welcome. As a rule it is 

 both ready and cordial. Each learner should make 

 it his or her business to find out the best work in the 

 vicinity of the home, or in such other districts as are 

 visited, with a view to acquiring knowledge. 



Certain natural circumstances favour the prospects 

 of successful rock-gardening in Great Britain. To 

 begin with, there is abundance of suitable stone. 

 Then there is a plentiful supply of admirable soil. 

 Further, there is no lack of water. Our equable 

 climate, though very far from presenting Alpine 

 conditions, is favourable in the main to plant growth. 

 Its prevailing humidity is agreeable to almost every 

 kind of plant, and certainly Alpines do not resent it, 

 on the contrary, they probably enjoy it. At all 

 events, it is certain that any slight disadvantage 

 which may arise from the dampness of the climate 

 is more than counterbalanced by the superior soil. 

 Alpines adapt themselves to the poor soil of 

 the mountain ranges, but they are fully capable of 

 appreciating something better. 



