58 ALPINE PLANTS 
minute that they require no covering soil at all. Even the 
smoothest surface has crevices sufficient for the seed to 
repose in and to cover is to entomb beyond possibility of 
escape. | 
It is safer to water alpine seeds by immersing the pan or 
pot almost to the rim, so that the water may soak up through 
the drainage until moisture appears on the surface, than to 
water overhead. Even a fine-rosed can may dislodge seeds 
just throwing out their first hair-like roots ; and, moreover, 
it is difficult to judge just how much water to give to ensure 
the whole body of soil being moistened, whereas immersion 
ensures this. 
Always sow seeds very thinly, especially the tiniest 
seeds, and always get the seedlings pricked out in the earliest 
stage it is possible to handle and separate them. By so 
doing a short-jointed robust growth is ensured, whereas by 
leaving in the seed-pan the plants become drawn, and their 
roots will be so entangled that breakage is unavoidable. 
Keep close and shaded for two or three days after pricking 
out, and from then onward give all the air possible on every 
fair day. 
Never be tempted to enrich the soil in which seeds are 
to be sown with manure, and still more shun the use of 
chemical fertilizers. Every effort must be made to keep 
the soil sweet and clean. It is a wise precaution to sterilize 
the soil by baking, thus destroying grubs, germs of disease, 
and the seeds of weeds that may be present in the soil. 
It will of course be necessary after baking to moisten the 
soil with clean water and allow to stand several hours before 
using. 
