ALPINE FLOWERS. 307 



moisture constantly filters from the earth above. The flint stones are 

 unquestionably inferior in colour to the neutral tint of grey sandstone 

 as they are too white when used fresh from the quarries ; nevertheless 

 in the absence of the former material, flints are effective and useful ; their 

 presence secures a moist soil underneath, although the stones themselves 

 do not retain the moisture as does the sandstone. Our alpineries are a 

 miniature horticultural world, and success depends upon setting each 

 plant into its right place : for instance, the moisture-loving plant, as the 

 cloudberry, in a moist place ; the dry-loving plant, as the house-leek, 

 on the dry creSt of tlie mound. The conditions of my alpineries are 

 so varied that I can accommodate a plant with any degree of moisture 

 in the soil, from comparative dryness to an absolute peat bog under 

 water. I always tell my gardener not to depend too much on his own 

 judgment, but if possible to plant more than one of each species in 

 different situations : no man can hope to attain sufficient experience to 

 determine the conditions under which each plant would. best thrive 

 for that would necessarily involve an exact knowledge of the natural 

 history of every plant. My larger alpinery is open to the full air and 

 light of heaven. There no trees are allowed to root ; for it is perfectly 

 indispensable, if alpine flowers are wanted, that the plants should be 

 thoroughly exposed to the sun and air. 



Although we can, in great measure, regulate the condition of the 

 soil, we can do little to vary the climate. At my garden we suffer from 

 moisture-depositing fogs in winter : it is not then uncommon to see all 

 the leaves of the plants dripping with wet. In this condition they are 

 more prone to die from cold than if covered with dry snow. Hence 

 many alpine plants thrive better in Scotland than they do with me ; 

 and it is still a matter for my consideration to find some method by 

 which I may overcome this great difficulty, which our proximity to a 

 warm river in winter entails upon us. 



I have a third alpinery, which I call my Saxifrage garden. This 



has a layer of three or four inches of brick rubbish, which is scattered 



over with large flints. I have also, at the edge of a bank, a Sem- 



• pervivum garden ; and my Sedums grow on the nearly vertical side of 



X 2 



