ROCK OR ALPINE GARDENS 49 



cause of the death of so many Alpine plants, is largely 

 diminished by this means. 



The best aspect for Alpine plants is east, and west is 

 the worst. Wherever there is a steep bank facing south 

 or east we have to hand a rock garden suitable for the 

 growth of Alpine plants almost ready to our hands. All 

 that is required is to bury a number of blocks of stone 

 to about three-quarters of their depth. 



In all cases where the elevation of the ground has to be 

 effected artificially the proper way is to build up a mass 

 of soil, putting in a rock here and there as the work 

 proceeds. This is far better than to build up a struc- 

 ture of stones and fill up the cracks of the soil afterwards. 

 Among the best of rock gardens are old walls, and many 

 plants that are grown with the greatest difficulty in 

 borders or pots may be grown with great ease on an old 

 stone or brick wall, especially that type of wall in which 

 no mortar has been used. 



Such plants as Aubrietia, Cheddar Pinks, Alpine 

 Wallflowers, Toadflax, and Stonecrops are easily grown 

 in this way. A little soil should be pushed in the cracks 

 with their roots at the time of planting. 



To sum up, the more a rock garden looks like a rough 

 piece of stony ground and the less it looks like a rockery 

 the better. 



The following is a short list of a few of the more 

 valuable rock plants with which a beginner may 

 experiment : — 



Ac&na microphylla. A little plant which forms a dense 

 carpet covered with curious red spikes of flowers. 



Achillea clavenna. A white downy plant which is 

 interesting throughout the year. 



Achillea tomentosa. Another downy-leaf plant bearing 

 bright yellow flowers. 



Adonis Vernalis, which bears bright yellow flowers in 

 spring. 



