34 



ALPINE FLOWERS. 



Part I. 



afford a position for many dwarf rock-plants which no specially 

 prepared situation could rival ; but even on straight and well-pre- 

 served walls we can establish some little beauties, which year 

 after year will abundantly repay the .tasteful cultivator for the 

 slight trouble of planting or sowing them. Those who have 

 observed the way dwarf plants grow on the tops of mountains, 

 or on elevated stony ground, must have seen in what arid 

 positions many grow in perfect health — tufts springing from an 



Fig. 30. 

 " The garland forest, which the grey walls wear."— J^cra». 



almost imperceptible chink on an arid rock or boulder. They 

 are often stunted and diminutive in. such places, but always 

 more floriferous and long-lived than when grown fat and large 

 upon the ground ; in fact, their beauty is often intensified by 

 starvation and aridity. Now, numbers of alpine plants perish 

 if planted in the ordinary soil of our gardens, and many do so 

 where much pains is taken to attend to their wants. This results 

 from over-moisture at the root in winter, the plant being ren- 

 dered more susceptible of injury by our. moist green winters 



