THE CULTURE 



OF 



ALPINE FLOWERS. 



PART I, 



THE ROCK-GARDEN. 



In treating of the culture of alpine plants, the first important 

 consideration is that much difference exists among them as 

 regards constitution and vigour. We have, on the one hand, 

 a number of valuable subjects that merely require to be sown 

 or planted in the roughest way to ilourish — the common Arabis 

 and Aubrietia for example ; but, on the other, there are many 

 kinds, like Gentiana verna, and the Primulas of the high 

 Alps, with many of their beautiful companions near the per- 

 petual snows, which we rarely or never see in good health in 

 these islands or elsewhere in gardens. It is as to the less 

 vigorous species that advice is chiefly required. Nearly 

 the whole of the misfortunes which these little plants 

 have met with in our gardens are to be attributed to a false 

 conception of what a rockwork ought to be, and of what the 

 true alpine plant requires. These plants live on high moun- 

 tains ; therefore it is thought they will do best in our gardens 

 if elevated on such tiny heaps of stones and brick rubbish as 

 we pile together and dignify by the name of " rockwork." If 

 I shortly describe the conditions under which they thrive in 

 high regions, perhaps we shall better see how far the common 

 ideas are sound. 



Mountains are often " bare,'' and cliffs are usually devoid of 

 soil ; but we must not conclude therefrom that the choice jewels 

 lery of plant life scattered over the ribs of the mountain or 



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