Rock Gardens 
I lie object of a rock garden is to enable one to grow flowers that 
have their homes in the high mountains where snows are deep and 
summer very short. To be sure, all plants grown in the rockery are 
not natives of the alpine regions, but the great majority are, and while 
the beginner is apt to feel that this is a most difficult branch of garden¬ 
ing, it is only necessary to begin with the many easy subjects to find 
it not only comparatively easy but immensely fascinating and one 
that opens up entirely new delights in gardening. 
We cannot all, of course, have extensive rock gardens; nor is it 
necessary, for a wonderful collection of rock plants can be grown in 
a small space. The most of us have a wall or bank that can be con¬ 
verted into a most bewitching spot with the aid of rock plants. 
As a rule, alpine plants are so miniature that they at once appeal 
to the protective instinct and while they appear so delicate as to make 
one feel they must be most difficult to grow, many of them are of as 
easy culture as a rose. As to the more difficult kinds, one need not 
attempt these until their experience grows a little and it is always 
an incentive to greater effort to know there are delights just beyond us. 
It is not necessary to have expense in order to have a delightful 
rock garden but rather that we turn our attention to the soil and site 
for the treasures we wish to possess. It must be borne in mind that 
rock plants are very deep rooting and so need plenty of good soil and 
extensive root runs, under rocks. Also that in most of cases the sur¬ 
face needs to be kept covered with small stones and that in all cases 
care should be taken that the rain supply is not cut off by overhang¬ 
ing rocks. 
We have not listed any plants too difficult for the ordinary gard¬ 
ener to grow, as we realize we have few specialists on alpine plants 
in this country at the present time but as our garden lovers become 
acquainted with the charms of alpine plants, we prophecy there will 
be many such enthusiasts. 
We will always be glad to give lists of plants for special places, 
free of charge, provided we have the requests between November 
lst and March 1st. 
