ALPINE, ROCK AND WALL GARDENS 



THE ALPINE GARDEN 



At one time it was commonly supposed that the Alpine plants, 

 which, with their exquisite flowers, so delicately enhance the beauty 

 of mountain scenery, could not be grown in lowland regions. The 

 knowledge that they were only found at a considerable 

 altitude, cind the conditions to which they were thus Condi^ns 

 subject — covered throughout the winter with a deep 

 bed of snow, under which they rested secure from frost and biting 

 wind until the moist and spring-like days appeared — seemed to 

 confirm this supposition. The conclusion, however, was found by 

 experience to be erroneous, and many a beautiful garden now testi- 

 fies to the fact that most of the Alpine plants can be cultivated suc- 

 cessfully in this country. For although the conditions of their 

 natural habitat cannot usually be had here, such con- », . g -^ i 

 ditions are not essential to the growth of the plants, ssentiai 



and the principal reason for their abounding in high regions is be- 

 cause no taller vegetation can exist at such an altitude. Upon the 

 plains or on the lower slopes of the mountains many of the Alpine 

 plants, especially the smaller species, would be over-run by other 

 and more vigorous growth, or would be destroyed by the over- 

 shadowing of bushes and trees. Hence it is that as, with the in- 

 crease of devation, the more rampant lowland growth fails, the lovely 

 Alpine flowers gradually find their opportunity in the struggle for 

 existence and finally prevail, unique in their abiUty to flourish in 

 such an environment. ' 



But though they are so well fitted to grace the habitat in which 

 they abound — another instance of the survival of the ^ . 



fittest — ^it by no means follows, as ahready stated, that Rl^rements 

 they cannot be cultivated elsewhere, while a due con- 

 sideration of their natural mode of growth is extremely useful in 

 determining the essential requirements for what is commonly called 

 an Alpine Garden. 



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