CHAPTER XI 



CULTIVATION 



Climatic difficulties — Contrasting natural and artificial con- 

 ditions — Tendency to loss of characteristic growth — 

 Methods of overcoming climatic difficulties — Import- 

 ance of proper planting — Time to plant — Importance 

 of top-dressing in spring — Weeding — Garden pests 

 and how to deal with them. 



Before discussing the cultivation of rock and 



alpine plants in general, let us for a moment 



study them growing in their native homes. 



We shall then be able to realise and be in a 



better position to cope with the difficulties to 



be contended with when cultivating them in 



the rock garden in this country. 



Long, cold, dry winters followed by hot, dry 



summers of short duration are the conditions 



in which they thrive. From the time of the 



first snows in late autumn until these are melted 



by the summer sun, the plants are covered 



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