HOUSES FOR ALPINE PLANTS. 



171 



of which I have had practical experience to one on which I have 

 had none) that Alpine- plant lovers who may live in or near the 

 smoke of large towns might find in these houses, with an important 

 variation in their structure, a probable means of largely defeat- 

 ing smoke, smut, and fog, and so of cultivating a favourite class 

 of plants which have hitherto defied their efforts. The variation 

 in question will be that the air should be admitted through large 

 wire-gauze-covered ventilators, fine enough to arrest the bulk of 

 atmospheric impurities, and capable of being frequently removed 

 and cleansed. 



The following lists or " selections " are in no way exhaustive, 

 and may readily be added to ; but they represent those plants 

 with which the writer has practical acquaintance. 



General Selection of Alpine Plants suitable for the Alpine House, 



In the following list are comprised as well plants in no 

 way needing the protection (but whose introduction to the house, 

 " on occasion," is recommended on the score of their beauty), as 

 also plants which, so far as the writer's experience extends, 

 either need or (more often) benefit by the shelter given. Plants 

 of the latter class are contained in the first part of the list ; of 

 the former class in the second part of it. The third part consists 

 of suitable Ferns ; and at the end of the list (Part IV.) are given 

 those plants which are best for the front line, by reason of their 

 falling or trailing habit. All kinds which are judged too coarse, 

 however beautiful as outside garden plants, are excluded. This 

 list may therefore be found useful by some, as a select assortment 

 of the choicer and neater Alpines, irrespective of the special and 

 more limited purpose for which it is compiled. No description 

 of the plants is attempted, but this can readily be found by 

 reference to the best Alpine catalogues. 



List I. 



Part I. — Containing the more Delicate Kinds. 



Acantholimon venustum 

 Achillea umbellata 



I Androsace ciliata 



chanictjasme 

 coronopifolia 

 cylindrica 

 foliosa 

 glacialis 

 helvetica 



.Ethionema coridifolium 



„ pulchellum 

 Andromeda fastigiata 

 Androsace carnea 



eximia 



