Introductory 



The flower-lover who begins to study the plants which, 

 following the standard of habit and character already- 

 given, may be fairly described as Alpine, is astonished 

 to find that the number of species is so considerable as 

 to elevate them into one of the most important sections 

 of cultivated plants. Not only is this so, but the rising 

 popularity of Alpines has led to a good many genera 

 being specialised by florists, who have obtained varieties 

 of them, just as others have of Roses and Sweet Peas. 



The few will be attracted, the many repelled, by the 

 task of making personal and intimate acquaintance with 

 the whole of the Alpine Flora. Life is short, and there 

 are many calls on time and attention. Many of us 

 would gladly, if we could, give this one section of plants 

 alone all our thought. But others call insistently, and 

 we must content ourselves, willy-nilly, with a knowledge 

 of the best of the Alpines, leaving the rest to those 

 people who find no pleasure in discrimination, no 

 satisfaction in compromises, but can be content only 

 with the most thorough and painstaking investigation 

 of every subject which they study. 



There is no pretence that every Alpine plant which 

 may be seen in nature, or whose name is discoverable 

 in a plant dictionary, is included in the following lists. 

 But an attempt has been made, not without thought 

 and care, to describe all the best plants, and so to give 



189 



