40 ALPINE OR ROCK PLANTS. 



for protecting a very extensive collection; and, in 

 this manner, I have treated them successfully. 



Mr. M'lhtosh, however, recommends a pit of his 

 construction. It can best be described in his own 

 words. He says, 



" In our practice, we have had a pit constructed 

 in the flower-garden, which served a double pur- 

 pose, being the abode of a collection of these plants 

 during Winter, and, when they were put out in 

 Spring, it was filled with the more showy species 

 of Mesembryanthemums planted out in it, which 

 flowered beautifully till Autumn, at which time it 

 was again filled with the Alpine-plants, plunged 

 into finely sifted coal ashes. 



" The walls of this pit were constructed of rock- 

 work, which was planted with rock plants, and was 

 soon completely covered. Nothing appeared, during 

 Summer, of a pit, when the whole was covered with 

 plants. The wooden wall-plates and rafters were 

 removed as soon as the Mesembryanthemums had 

 established themselves ; and were only replaced in 

 Autumn, when the others were placed into it; the 

 lights, &c., were used during Summer for other pur- 

 poses. In this pit, which was elevated about a foot 

 in front, and two feet behind, we cultivated, for 

 three years, one of the richest private collections 

 of these interesting plants, probably brought together 

 in this country."* 



* Practical Gardener, p, 873. 



