ALPINES FOR WALLS, STEPS, EDGINGS. 107 



as those suggested. One sometimes sees common 

 Stonecrops growing in the niches of a cottage wall, 

 and they should stimulate us to plant the tops of our 

 own low walls, although with better plants. Aubrietias 

 wall grow in almost anything, and they are beyond 

 compare the best plants to establish in any position 

 where they can droop down over the face of stones. 

 They are not only closer and neater than Arabises, 

 but flower later and longer, while the warmer colours 

 give a richer effect. The Snow-in-summer is a delightful 

 companion to the Aubrietia. It comes into bloom when 

 Arabises are going out, and in early summer is a fleecy 

 sheet of silvery leafage and snow-white blossom. 



The whole of the closest wall existing can be covered 

 \vith flowers if the amateur is prepared to go to the 

 extreme of fixing stones on the face, partly with 

 long spikes and partly with mortar. I have seen 

 such walls. The spikes are first driven well in, and 

 then flat stones are placed on them with their mortar- 

 coated inner edge in contact with the wall. With a 

 little soil placed on the stones a considerable number 

 of plants can be grown. The plan is somewhat more 

 artificial than the Nature-lover cares for, and may 

 perhaps be reserved for emergencies. 



Another direction in which the amateur may look 

 for the utilisation of Alpine flowers is to fringe the 

 steps that may have to be formed in the garden. 

 Such steps may be of various kinds. They may be 

 as plain and uncompromising as the staircase of an 

 infirmary, they may be straight, stiff and flowerless, 

 or they may be winding, informal, and graced with 



