ALPINES AND WALL PLANTS. 



177 



GROWING ALPINE AND OTHER PLANTS ON WALLS. 



V>y E. H. Jenkins, F.R.H.S. 

 [Head May 7, 1901. J 



I DO not for a moment say that wall ^urdemn^, or the growing of 

 Alpine and other plants on garden walls, is novel, inasmuch as I have 

 known something of it in its varying aspects for nearly thii-ty years ; but 

 it may safely be regarded as a rather exceptional phase of gardening, 

 and certainly, in gardening pursuits, one of the most interesting. Then, 

 if one would look at it from its utilitarian standpoint, it is obviously of 

 considerable value in decorating and otherwise covering not a few of those 

 mistakes that are continually cropping up in the garden, and more par- 

 ticularly in those instances where the all too straight lines and clean 

 struck joints of the bricklayers are painfully evident. It is, moreover, 

 worthy of remark in passing, that even in an ordinary brick wall it is a 

 matter of surprise how large a number of really useful plants may be 

 grown ; the exact number having, perhaps, most to do with tlie subsequent 

 care and attention bestowed on the subjects introduced. 



To Mk. Latimer Clark. 



But while on the very threshold of my subject, I cannot overlook the 

 fact that I am largely indebted to the late Mr. Latimer Clark, then of 

 Sydenham Hill, for a long and close apprenticeship to this very class of 

 gardening. For many years Mr. Clark was a Fellow of our Society, ever 

 closely interested in the Society's work, and especially interested in all 

 that pertained to hardy things. The very hilly nature of his garden at 

 Sydenham gave rise to a variety of retaining walls, more or less an 

 obvious necessity in all cases, and, in a corresponding degree, all more or 

 less ugly in a garden possessing so many good features naturally. It was, 

 however, a chief desire and aim of his to hide and cover up the more con- 

 spicuous portions, and ibis, I think, was in time fairly well accomplished. 



Mistakes and Errors Rectified. 



Personally, as a matter of fact, I am considerably indeljted to the 

 above-named gentleman for the experiences gained in his garden ; and, 

 indeed, the failures and successes of that period have upon more than 

 one occasion stood me in very good stead when engaged in this or similar 

 work. 



Difficulties to Contend with. 



I have spoken of failures and successes, and without hesitation 1 say 

 that many failures in the garden I have mentioned were obviously due to 

 the construction of the walls, in which generally there was too much of 

 the bricklayer's art. Of course the first and chief object of a retaining 

 wall— should it exist for that purpose — is that it perform its function. 



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