. Alpine flowers for English gardens . Mountain plants. Part I. ALPINES IN SHRUBBERY BORDERS. 47 Many alpine plants, when grown in borders, are much bene- fited by being surrounded by a few half-buried rugged stones or pieces of rock. These are useful in preventing excessive evapo- ration, and in guarding the plant, when small and young, from being trampled Upon or overrun by coarse weeds or plants, and in keeping the ground firmer. Be- sides, many mountain plants look much more at home when ar- ranged somewhat as shown in the accompanying illustration than in "^^^^^^^*' any other way on
. Alpine flowers for English gardens . Mountain plants. Part I. ALPINES IN SHRUBBERY BORDERS. 47 Many alpine plants, when grown in borders, are much bene- fited by being surrounded by a few half-buried rugged stones or pieces of rock. These are useful in preventing excessive evapo- ration, and in guarding the plant, when small and young, from being trampled Upon or overrun by coarse weeds or plants, and in keeping the ground firmer. Be- sides, many mountain plants look much more at home when ar- ranged somewhat as shown in the accompanying illustration than in "^^^^^^^*' any other way on borders. pj^ 3^._Aipi„e pLt on border over- A few barrowfuls of stones—the lapping half-buried stones. large flints that edgings are often made from will do well, if better cannot be obtained—will do for many plants.; and this simple plan will be found to suit many who cannot afford the luxury of a properly formed rock- work. Lists of alpine plants suitable for the mixed border will be found in the selections, at the end of the book. Lastly, I will speak of the capabilities of common shrubbery borders, &c. for growing a very considerable number of alpine plants. No practice is more general, or more in accordance with ancient custom, than that of digging shrubbery borders, and there is none in the whole course of gardening more profitless or worse. When winter is once come, almost every gardener, although animated with the best intentions, simply prepares to make war upon the roots of everything in his shrubbery border. The generally accepted practice is to trim, and often to mutilate the shrubs, and to dig all over the surface that must be full of feeding roots. Delicate half-rooted shrubs are often disturbed ; herbaceous plants, if at all delicate and not easily recognised, are destroyed; bulbs are often displaced and injured ; and a sparse depopulated aspect is given to the margins, while the only " improvement" that is effected by the process is the annua
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1870
