132 ROCK GARDENS 



ground damp and lessen the chances of its 

 getting baked. The seedHngs may be left 

 where sown until they are fit to transplant 

 to their final habitat. In the stronger- 

 growing kinds, if they come up too quickly, 

 a little thinning can be done with advantage ; 

 but care should be taken not to disturb the 

 roots of those that are to remain. 



In this way many of the best rock plants 

 may be raised. They have this advantage 

 over those sown in pots, that they are less 

 liable to suffer from the vicissitudes of 

 temperature, nor do they receive any check 

 when being pricked out. But do not imagine 

 that your bed of seedlings is free from all 

 dangers, for sooner or later hungry slugs 

 will find them out during their midnight 

 forays, and then woe betide them, for untold 

 havoc will be wrought before you visit in 

 the morning what was the night before the 

 pride and joy of your heart. There is one 

 thing, however, no slug or snail will cross, 

 and that is zinc. So get a sheet of zinc 

 and cut it into strips about 3 inches wide, 

 and after the seeds are sown put this all 



