Explanatory. ^^ 



of the most delightful phases of the subject is 

 that of naturalizing alpine and rock plants on ruins 

 and old walls : there are scores of kinds that not 

 only thrive on such places, but are to be seen to 

 greater advantage on them than in any other posi- 

 tions ; but as this is very fully dealt with in an 

 illustrated chapter in my "Alpine Flowers," I 

 content myself in the present work with giving a 

 carefully drawn up list of the best species that will 

 succeed on ruins and old walls. 



By these means it is quite practicable to create 

 aspects of vegetation along our wood and shrubbery 

 walks, and in neglected places, superior to any 

 seen in nature, because we may cull from the flora 

 of every northern, temperate, and alpine region ; 

 whereas in nature comparatively few plants exist 

 wild in a restricted space, while the effect of the 

 planting which I suggest need be in no sense 

 inferior in any one spot to that of the sweetest 

 wild of Nature's own arranging. 



It must not be thought that my proposal can 

 only be carried out in places where there is some 

 extent of rough pleasure-ground, or some approxi- 

 mation to what I call half-wild places. Un- 

 doubtedly the finest effects may be obtained in 

 these ; but excellent results may be obtained from 



D 



