ALPINE FLOWERS. 



Part I. 



tions between the soil and rock) sooner or later. The same 

 principle applies to small stones and fissures. 



" To prevent undue evaporation in the case of such .fissures as 

 M, stones, larger or smaller, may be laid on the top of the soil 

 (as in M, Fig. 1 1), care being taken not to cover too much of it, to 

 the exclusion of rain. 



Right 



Wrong 



" Where a large fissure exists (as in Fig. 12), the smaller pieces 

 of stone in it are on this account best placed with the narrowest 

 edge or point upwards — not downwards. It will easily be seen 

 that the tendency of tlje mixed soil, both as a whole and in each 

 of its subdivided parts, is to become more and more compressed 

 by its own weight and by the action of rain. 



" As to the general disposition of masses of rockwork. Fig. 13 

 is perhaps the best form. Assuming the same bulk of material 

 to be in Fig. 14, the latter is far inferior in efficiency, though 

 it may be more pictorial. I believe the best local positions for 

 very high alpines are narrow fissures catching the sun for several 

 hours each day, but having a gentle slope to the northward : 

 and if the rockwork can be so arranged that a ' high ' range of 



