172 ROCK GARDENS 



This mixture should be fine and be put 

 through a ^-inch riddle. 



Every spring we should carefully examine 

 our plants, especially such kinds as Androsace 

 villosa^ Chamcejasme^ and Lugger i^ many of 

 the Potentillas, Saxifrages, Erigerons, Asters, 

 Campanulas, Daphne cneorum and Blagayana, 

 Silenes, Dianthus, Anemones, Primulas, Gen- 

 tians, etc., and wherever it is found that the 

 soil has been washed away from the plants, 

 expose their roots and stems, gently open the 

 tufts out, and carefully work in the soil and 

 grit through them. Small chips of stone 

 can with advantage be used to keep stragghng 

 shoots in position and encourage them to 

 layer. It may, and probably will, be a 

 troublesome operation, but the result will 

 more than repay the time expended, for 

 plants so treated will shortly appear to take 

 a new lease of life and display that vigour of 

 healthy growth that is the pride and joy of 

 all gardeners. 



The surface of the whole garden should 

 be gone over, and wherever roots or off- 

 shoots of plants are exposed they should be 



