PROPAGATION OF ALPINE .PLANTS _ ‘57 
and it is a case of selecting the best and discarding the 
inferior, but with very many well defined types and species 
the seedlings can be relied upon, and often, indeed, a plant 
raised from seed is superior to the rooted cutting or the 
divided root. 
It is a very good general rule to sow seeds of alpines as 
soon as they are ripe. This, of course, is in the summer 
time in the case of spring flowering plants, and autumn for 
the later blooming kinds, but if ripened later than September 
it will generally be better to defer sowing until early spring. 
As with cuttings, so with seeds of alpines, it is a great 
mistake to attempt to hasten germination by submitting 
them to artificial heat. Be content to raise in a cold frame 
or an unheated greenhouse, for seedlings of such hardy 
plants raised in high temperature start life weakened by 
unnatural conditions, become drawn and weakly, and are 
inevitably disappointing. Use light porous soil in well 
drained pots or pans. Wooden trays may be used for 
subjects that are known to be of rapid germination and 
growth, but a large proportion of the choicer Alpines are the 
reverse of rapid, and for such porous earthenware containers 
are far preferable. 
One of the greatest difficulties to contend with in raising 
small seeded alpines of slow growth is the tendency of the 
surface soil to become overgrown with moss or lichen. As 
a safeguard against this trouble, for trouble it is since the 
overgrowth checks and sometimes smothers the seedlings, 
it is well to dust powdered charcoal or a little finely powdered 
lime over the soil. 
Never bury the seed deeply. Many alpine seeds are so 
