44 ALPINE OR ROCK PLANTS. 



SPRING TREATMENT, 



ABOUT the latter end of February it is necessary to 

 look over the rock-work, and should there be any 

 blanks occasioned by the death of the plants, they 

 can easily be replaced from your main collection 

 when propagating. Indeed, the rock-work can be 

 entirely furnished with plants from the collection, 

 if fully established. 



The time to commence propagation must be re- 

 gulated according as the plants commence to vege- 

 tate, which they do at different periods. The month 

 of March, however, may be considered the proper 

 season for most of them. 



Alpines are chiefly propagated by division of the 

 plants, and by seeds. Some, but few, are propa- 

 gated by cuttings, such as the Dianthus, or pink 

 family ; and these may also be propagated by seed, 

 collected at the proper season. 



If you do not require to increase your stock of 

 this tribe of plants, and if they are not growing too 

 large for the pots, a top dressing of suitable soil, and 

 weeding, is sufficient* 



