ALPINE PLANTS. 45 
are sent from a nursery they are generally 
set with flower-buds. (Of course, it is quite 
natural for the buds to develop under almost 
any condition the first year). After the plants 
have been received, they are planted in some 
unfavourable position (it is remarkable in what 
unsuitable positions I have seen Gentiana 
verna planted—positions in which I should 
never expect anything to grow). They flower 
because they cannot do anything else; but 
they have no chance to root, because the 
place and soil are not what they require. 
After they have done flowering, the stems 
are all that are left to be seen; the leaves 
will all have dried up. The flower-stems are 
very fine and the wind has a great power 
over them, and soon twists and breaks them 
off. Of course, in the meadows and _ parts 
where they grow wild there is always grass 
to support the stems. To prevent this blow- 
ing about and breaking off, a top-dressing of 
sand and leaf-mould (equal parts) should be 
used. If leaf-mould cannot be obtained use 
loam one part, three parts sand. The loam 
or leaf-mould should be put through a 
din. riddle, using what comes through for 
SS eee 
