ALPINE GARDENS. 



87 



there are superb, and the AcanthoHmons, which I have placed on the 

 top of the wall, form considerable clumps which, especially Acantho- 

 limon venustum, are covered with a carpet of bright rose in the sum- 

 mer-time. On the northern side we have planted Saxifraga florulenta, 

 S. pedemontana, S. reiusa, S. cuneata, S. corhariensis , &c. Morisia 

 hypogaea and Moehrmgia sedoides, Eamondias, Ranunculus alpestris, 

 and R. hilohus and Primulas. Primula Allionii is there absolutely 

 covered with flowers from the beginning of March, and succeeds won- 

 derfully. 



These walls are so vivid, so brilliant even, that we have met with 

 several imitators, and in our country at least we begin to take a deep 

 interest in wall-cultivation. The town of Geneva has caused to be 

 planted several hundred wall plants in what now remains to us of the 

 old fortifications below the Promenade St. Antoine, and these plants 

 are healthy and taking root there. The companies of the mountain 

 railways (Territet-Glyon ; Yevey-Pelerin) have planted in the walls 

 which border their lines every kind of saxatile flora, and from the end 

 of January one can admire on the walls of the suburbs of Vevey and 

 Montreux the deep violet clumps of the Auhrietia, whose flowers have 

 so spread that they form coloured cushions of sometimes from 1 to 2 

 feet in diameter. Later on will come the Centranthus of three colours, 

 Corydalis lutea, Campanulas, Saponaria ocymoides, and a hundred 

 other brilliant flowers. For in this perpendicular position the most 

 delicate plants succeed beyond all expectation. But it is necessary 

 that the wall be perpendicular or the result will be poor. The less 

 space between the stones, the more trouble the plant has in finding 

 subsistence, the more brilliant and rich is its efflorescence. 



I know several of these gardens in England, and I can affirm that 

 the plants that have been introduced there have succeeded admirably, 

 even such delicate species as the Androsaces, Omphalodes and Cam- 

 panula Raineri. 



