ON ROCKERIES AND ALPINE PLANTS. 
231 
Another important particular connected with their natural circumstances, and 
which ought to be borne in mind in their cultivation, is, that by being thus buried 
in snow, the soil in which they grow is kept in a uniform state of moisture, never 
amounting to wet or saturation ; and even when the snow thaws, this takes place 
so gradually, the water which it engenders is also so speedily precipitated to a 
lower region, and the thaw is so rapidly succeeded, indeed caused, by the powerful 
heat of the sun, that, throughout the entire season, they are not subjected to a 
greater degree of moisture than is sufficient to preserve them alive, or excite and 
maintain them in a growing state. How different is the case with those of them 
which are cultivated in our gardens ! Exposed, through the whole year, to the 
frequent recurrence of such a degree of cold and wet, as, to those acquainted with 
their habits, would appear more than sufficient to destroy them, it cannot be 
surprising that they do not succeed. Let them but be sheltered, during the winter 
season, with some light and dry material which is calculated to exclude both wet 
and frost, (that is, any extreme degree of either of them,) and these charming little 
plants may then be seen flourishing to a degree of perfection even superior to what 
they naturally attain, and will become some of the prettiest ornaments of our 
flower-gardens, but more especially of our rockeries. 
We have already devoted too much space to this interesting subject to allow of 
our furnishing a list of the best and most ornamental kinds of Alpine plants ; but 
we may observe, that, though it is by no means an extensive class of plants, it is 
neither deficient in variety or beauty, and an ample stock of most interesting species 
may be obtained of almost any nurseryman for a trifling cost. The soil for them 
may be introduced into any of the crevices of the rockery, and the best situation is 
one in which two or more pieces of rock meet, so that by the fissure thus formed, 
an outlet will be provided at the base for the escape of all superfluous water. 
Planted in such a situation, and sheltered in the winter according to the preceding 
directions, no other attention will be necessary, except that, in excessively hot 
weather, they may occasionally require a slight watering. 
To those of our readers who possess neither a rockery nor a collection of Alpine 
plants, we recommend an immediate attention to the subject, and however small 
and feeble the attempt they may make to supply this deficiency in their gardens, 
they may rest assured of an immediate recompense in the great delight and gratifi- 
cation which the accession of so interesting and ornamental a feature will afford. 
