A L P I N E P L A N T S BY M A CSELF A . J “ A t h r of Hgd P erennial s et c u o y , . T P H HS B M LLUS R H L U O OGRA Y R . LB I T ATED WI CO O R T P . A A Y WATE R COLOUR DRAWINGS BY WI NIERE D WALKE R E . L INE DRAWING S BY G . LEE NEW YORK CHARLES SCRI BNER’ S SONS 1 92 3 DEDICATED TO TH E NAT IONA L HA RDY PLANT S OCIETY AND TO ALL WHOSE AIM IT IS TO CULTIV’ ATE ALPINE AND KINDRED PLANTS CONTENTS PAGE A S OURCE OF DELIGHT AND I NTEREST FOR GARDENS OF ALL DIMENSIONS 1 3 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ALPINE PLA NTS 1 9 ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK GARDENS 2 7 O N WALL GARDENS 3 3 ON THE CULTURE OF ALPINE PLANTS IN S M ALL GARDENS 3 9 PROPAGATION OF ALPINE PLANTS ; THE VARIOUS METHODS DESCRIBED ALPINE PLANTS IN POTS AND PANS A K P EAS ILY GROWN LPINE AND INDRED LANTS . CHOICE ALPINE PLANTS FOR THE ROCK GARDEN OR ALPINE BE D S ELECTIONS OF PLANTS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES INDEX LI ST O F I LLUSTRATI O N S A S teep Ascent in a Del ightful Ro ck Garden F rontispiece en ana Farrer A S erb Ro Pl an of Recen I nt roduc G ti i . up ck t t tion ZEt hionema Warl ey Ro se en an s l e in a S e t n of ras s G ti , B u , t i g G 1 Paroche s Co mm n s The S hamroc P e a 2 erben a . tu u i ( k ) . V Chamaedrio ides Al ine Pl an s Ha amon s Well - l a ed Rocks p t , ppy g t p c R amondi a Nat hal ie n Fr osa 1 ero a Ro c S eedwell 2 Po ent ll a . V ic ( k p ) . t i utic % Iber s S em er irens L t le G em An Al ne iol a 3 . i p v it . 4. pi V A L PI N E PLA N TS CHAPTER I A S OURCE OF DELI GHT AND I NTEREST FOR GARDENS OF ALL DI MENS I ONS 0 claim that any particular plant or class of plants is possessed of charm or merit exceeding others e - is simply to display s lf conceit , for it signifies the ’ assumption that one s own taste and judgm ent is per fect e e inde en , and d ni s others the right of originality or p dence of opinion . Ardently as I admire and love the dainty little gems a e of the alpine flor , I seek no quarrel with the devote s a hi of the rose , the c rnation , the wondrous orc ds , or of e e e any oth r flow rs , but I rej oic in the knowledge that I S hare my love of alpine plants with a widespread and ever-increasing circle of enthusiasts ; and with a firm con viction that the more information regarding alpine plants e a the ea e l and th ir culture is dissemin ted , gr t r wi l be their a set el l popul rity , I mys f to the delightful task of te ling the a ar the beginner , novice , how these f scinating and ch ming flowers may be successfully grown in any and every garden . x4 ALPINE PLANTS It may be well at the outset to remark that whilst for an d i convenience brev ty our title is alpine plants, the r l a hi wo k wi l embr ce many plants w ch , although not l are natives of the European A ps , of kindred nature and e a e generally adapt d for cultiv tion as alpin s . Much has been written and might yet be wr itten upon e em ha the merits of thes plants , but the points I wish to p size are that in a given space of restricted area a greater range of varieties may be successfull y grown than is pos e an and a sibl with y other class of plants , that even in tiny town garden a collection of alpine plants may be accommodated that will include something to bloom m e every onth of the y ar from January to December, whilst many are as beautiful and pleasing in foliage as in flower . With abundance of room and ample resources at dis al pos , rock gardens may be created which shall constitute dl u a source of en ess enj oyment , but let me rge upon my e reva read rs to set aside the notion , unfortunately too p lent , that vast expense must be incurred in building elaborate rockeries in order to secure success and enj oy a e ment with al pine pl nts . It is quit possible to grow a thoroughly good collection even without a rockery at and a a l all , it is this extr ordinary ad ptabi ity of this class of plants to gardens of every conceivable size and character that constitutes its exceptional claim to the special atten all a l tion of who love gardening . But rea love of plants and ar ni s of g de ng is the great es ential , for it is not he i al t a who , hav ng we th , submi s to the whims of f ncy or i l fashion , and orders a rock garden to be bu lt and p anted , A SOURCE OF DELIGHT AND INTEREST 1 5 who will taste the sweets of satisfaction and enjoyment the in its possession , but rather enthusiast who learns to l and know plants individua ly, and procures here one there another and installs them in the home of his own a preparation , gradually acquiring collection with every hi l item of w ch he is fondly fami iar . The making of any kind of garden should be a work of gradual development a be and e and evolution , not a t sk to begun compl ted in one hurried operation , and this applies perhaps more a l particul rly to a garden of alpine plants , whether arge a S Sites , situ tions and oils must of necessity govern to a great extent the selections of plants that should be e the ca abili includ d in a collection , but character and p ties oi al pine plants vary so Widely that some may be found a a a d pt ble to any locality and aspect , and furthermore , the comparatively small size of most alpines renders it a simple and inexpensive matter to provide little nooks and spaces for a variety of different subjects in such a manner as will ensure the happiness and well-being of ll a . The erstwhile prevalent idea regarding a rockery was a a l - a that it should be he p of stones , c inkers , brick b ts , e -of—the-wa m e and rubbish in som out y co r of the garden , a a w e e r under spre ding tree , or any h r whe e nothing much a l would grow, the occupants gener l y comprising a few - e rough fern roots , and coarse growing periwinkl , prim a a roses , and German Iris . Sm ll wonder th t rockeries a an were looked upon with disd in d contempt . Thanks to the output of gardening literature to meet I 6 ALPINE PLANTS a e the dem nd for a better knowl dge of plant culture , and to the enterprise and development of illustrated garden a ea journ ls , a cl rer conception of the possibilities of fine e a e rockeries was obtained . The x mpl s of rock gardens and at a ar r at Kew , the Edinburgh Bot nic G dens , se ved e a a e as obj ct lessons to enthusi stic g rdeners . Nurserym n S e z as the who p ciali ed in alpine plants , such great firm a a l and of B ckhouse of York , B rr , Ware , Wa lace others , t e e fine a a cons ruct d som rockeries in priv te g rdens , and by ex hibiting model rockeries at the Royal Horticul tural and other important shows they educated the garden e h n loving public to an appr ciation of t is form of garde ing . e and In course of time it follow d , in some respects it may r a a a be said unfo tunately , th t rock gardening bec me a a ra e h f shion ble c z , which led to a mus room growth of a crowd of self-styled experts who built rockeries anywhere and n e e well igh v rywhere . The unfortunate element is that whilst a properly con r a st ucted rockery , planned with due reg rd to environment , w a a e an a ill constitute v luabl feature of y g rden , the mere insistence upon having a rockery S imply because it is fashionable has in too many cases l ed to quite inapp ro riate a a w al ar e and p ssoci tion ith form g d ning , the work being sometimes undertaken by those who lack artistic as well as technical S kill has resulted in the building up a the a e a r of rocks for displ y , pl nts b ing dded as t immings r - to the structure , whe eas rock work should be utilized n a the a o ly to form home for pl nts .