JOUBNAL 



OF THE 



Royal Horticultural Society. 



Vol. XIII. 1891. 

 Part III. 



THE CULTIVATION OF ALPINE PLANTS. 

 By the Eev. C. Wolley Dod, M.A. 

 [Read June 9, 1891.] 



The flora of the European Alps is the richest mountain flora 

 in the world; but the term " alpine plants" is used to include 

 many which are not found on the Alps — some which are not ♦ 

 mountain plants at all. In this sense the word "alpine" is hard 

 to define ; but I intend to speak generally to-day of the cultiva- 

 tion of ornamental hardy plants of low stature, such as may be 

 successfully grown amongst large stones, either facing a bank or 

 elevated above the level of the ground. 



There are some favoured gardens where natural rockeries 

 exist, or where the conditions of the soil with regard to quality 

 or drainage are such that choice and delicate mountain plants 

 may be grown on the ground-level in ordinary borders. Such 

 gardens exist in several districts in England, and are common in 

 Scotland and Wales ; few rules are necessary there, where plants 

 have only to be planted and kept clear of weeds in order 

 to thrive. 



But most of us who wish to grow choice alpines in our 

 gardens have to make the best of conditions naturally unfavour- 

 able, and in doing this we can be helped by the experience of 

 those who have made it their special study. 



We need not say much of climate and atmospheric conditions, 

 because they are beyond our control. It may be remarked, 

 however, that high elevation above the sea-level is a great 

 advantage in the neighbourhood of towns, because the im- 



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