THE GARDEN OF ALPINES 21 



may find a home. The Glacier Pink (D. neglectus), 

 with its tufts of grass-like foliage and clusters of rosy 

 flowers, is another good plant for naturalising. From the 

 pasture lands of the Austrian Alps comes a charming 

 Harebell, (C. pulla), a true gem for the grass. Among 

 the Gentians is the May-flowering kind (Alpina) and the 

 larger Willow Gentian (G. asclepiadea), the latter, how- 

 ever, more suited to positions among coarse grass than in 

 the section devoted to the smallest plants. The Vernal 

 Gentian (G. verna), common on English hillsides as well 

 as in the Alps, prefers limestone, and is never so happy 

 as when exposed to the fullest sunshine, in a cool, moist 

 soil. Where the rocks meet the grass a few patches of 

 the Alpine Heath (Erica carnea) will mark a change in 

 the planting : in early spring the rosy flowers are 

 particularly welcome. Ranunculus aconitifolius, of which 

 our Fair Maids of France is the double form, is one of 

 the best Alpines for naturalising, and is especially free 

 flowering. Finally there are the Alpine violets, which 

 carpet the mountain meadows with a filmy veil of blue. The 

 Spurred Violet (V. calcarata) and the little Two-flowered 

 Yellow Violet (V. biflora), are among the brightest and 

 best flowers to grow in the grass near the garden of 

 Alpines. All the above may be naturalised in close turf, 

 and with occasional division and replanting will continue 

 to increase in size and beauty every year. 



Naturally these small Alpines are not suited to coarse 

 pasturage or for association with the tall growing grasses 

 which thrive in waste places. On the poor limestone 

 soil which best suits them, only the smallest and poorest 

 grasses will be found. Such kinds as the Sheep's Fescue 

 (Festuca ovina), with wiry, setaceous leaves will form 

 an excellent carpet without choking the Alpines out of 

 existence. 



Higher up the mountain sides where the meadow land 

 gives place to sparse tufts of dry bents and wiry grasses. 



