THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROCK GARDEN 



IT is one of the advantages of a well-planned rock 

 garden that it provides a great variety of con- 

 ditions in a small space. But it requires some knowl- 

 edge of the habits of rock plants to profit by this 

 variety. Most rock plants, and particularly those 

 which grow high up in mountains, are not so adapt- 

 able as the plants of the lowlands. Their power of 

 adaptation seems to have exhausted itself in suiting 

 them to the peculiar conditions of their native homes; 

 and, the more peculiar these conditions are, the less 

 power they usually have of adapting themselves to 

 others. In this they are very like human beings; 

 like the Eskimo who pines away from his native ice 

 and snow, and the mountaineer who is homesick in 

 the plains. Thus, when a rock garden is well placed, 

 planned, and built, there yet remains the further 

 problem of finding exactly the right positions for the 

 plants that are to be grown in it; and the success of 

 a rock garden will depend upon the nicety with which 

 this is done. It is true that there are many rock plants 

 which will thrive fairly well in any open position; 

 but even these will usually do better in one place 

 than in another; and the gardener's aim should be 

 to have all his plants doing their best. 

 Now, of all differences of conditions which affect 



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