Part I. THE WINDOIV ROCK-GARDEN. 55 



convenient, with morsels of broken sandstone. A few mossy or 

 ancient-looking stones should be half buried on the upper sur- 

 face, and then the whole should be planted, the best time to do 

 this being April. It is not merely possible to keep alpine suc- 

 culents in this way : it is easy to grow a multitude of the most 

 interesting and beautiful kinds ! I never in wild or garden saw 

 these plants in better health, or looking more at home, than on 

 the outside of a low sunny window in Mr. Peter Barr's house at 

 Tooting. Fig. 40 shows a view of this from the interior ; it 

 was no less pretty seen from without. It is, however, impossible 

 to show in an engraving the exquisite effect of the Lilliputian 

 succulents when struggling in graceful confusion on a spot they 

 enjoy so much. The attention required is very trifling, some 

 little taste in forming and planting, a judicious selection of 



Fig. 40. — The window rock-garden (interior view). 



plants, and thorough waterings during the dry season. I need 

 hardly add that small and brilliant spring bulbs might be em- 

 ployed to hght up this tiny garden in spring as well as that 

 previously mentioned. It would also be desirable to plant 

 subjects of a drooping character on the outer margin. The 

 alpine succulents are all thoroughly hardy, and would remain 

 in good condition during the winter, but a little changing and 

 replanting every spring would be very desirable. 



Hitherto alpine plants have generally been grown in pots, and 

 it might perhaps be supposed from this fact that something like 

 perfection was arrived at in their culture. It is not so. I do 

 not advocate their culture in pots at all where an opportunity of 

 making even the smallest type of rockwork exists ; but there are 

 many cases in which they cannot be well grown in any other 

 way. It is desirable to keep some kinds in pots till sufficiently 



