CULTIVATION 171 



much better not to water at all. Watering, 

 once commenced, should be continued ; but if 

 the garden is properly made and the slopes not 

 too steep, little will be required when once the 

 plants are established, unless in an exception- 

 ally dry summer. 



It is a good practice to put stones, pressing 

 them in firmly, close to and round the neck 

 of alpine plants. These help to keep the 

 roots moist and cool, and prevent the leaves 

 lying on the damp ground. 



Top-dress the rock garden in spring to 

 counteract the effect of the winter's rain and 

 frost. It is a very important and necessary 

 operation, and one which is too often neglected. 

 Nature herself does it by bringing down with 

 the melting snow, soil and grit, which are 

 deposited over and around the plants. 



The best compost that we can use for 

 this purpose is the refuse from the potting 

 bench, mixed with sharp sand and grit, or, 

 failing this, fibrous loam, leaf -mould, and 

 sand in about equal parts will do well ; the 

 addition of a little powdered granite will 

 be found beneficial and suit many plants. 



