BANK FOR ALPINE PLANTS. 25 



Roots of all the alpine plants I could collect, have also been Roots planted- 

 planted in this bank, and they thrive much better than uiien 

 cultivated in pot* on a stage, however open or airy, so that 

 most of the following have greatly increased both by seeds and 

 roots. Moehringia muscosa, viola bi flora, androsace carnea, Catalogue. 

 and lactea, soldanella, alpina, primula farinosa* tussilago, 

 alpina, artemisia glaciqlis, salix myrsinites, retusa, and reti- 

 culata. 



The culture they require is, 1st, to keep the lank carefully Management, 

 weeded : 2dly, to reduce within bounds many that grow and 

 spread rapidly so as to exclude others : 3dly, to dig and lighten 

 the surface frequently, that it may absorb air and w^ter more 

 readily : 4thly, to add three inches in depth of fresh sandy peat 

 every year, in place of the old, which soon loses its humus, or 

 nutritious part : 5thly, in giving the plants, at a certain season, 

 not only daily, but hourly waterings ; but this being one of the 

 most important points, I shall enlarge more fully upon it. 



Almost all alpine plants are of humble stature, growing on Alpine plants 

 steep declivities of rocks in a layer of humus or vegetable earth, naturally wa- 

 formed by the decomposition of jungermannias, lichens, and meltin/snow*. 

 mosses. The greater part of the year, they are covered with a 

 bed of snow, which only begins to melt at stated periods of the 

 day, after the rays of the sun have acquired great force. Then 

 only do these alpine plants awaken from torpidity, exhaling 

 quickly in this light black soil the moisture which they have 

 absorbed during the night j but the returning sun, which excites 

 them to action, also melts the snow above, the waters of which 

 trickling down to their roots, give immediate refreshment. 

 The sun disappearing, these little vegetables are no longer ex-: 

 hausted, and a continuance of moisture would even be hurtful $ 

 accoidingly the snow resuming its solid consistence with the 

 cold of the night, this natural irrigation ceases, with a degree 

 of exactness, that the most careful gardener cannot perform. 



From the above remarks, it will easily be deduced, that alpine Artificial wa- 

 plants should have no wa^.r at all during winter and dank tering. 

 moist weather : on the contrary, that they should be kept per- 



* I have constantly found this plant growing wild in wet meadows 

 that are seldom dry even in summer, at the foot of the mountains, and 

 even in bogs. Sec. 



petually 



