74 THE STORY OF MY ROCK GARDEN 



as they are coming through the ground. Painful 

 experience taught me that these feathered visitors 

 had remarkably keen sight, and could detect the first 

 sign of germination some time in advance of myself, 

 much to the disadvantage of the little plants over which 

 I had taken so much trouble. Other frames, so 

 ventilated, I find are ideal for keeping my reserve 

 plants in during the winter, merely protecting them 

 from undue overhead wet. 



It should be borne in mind that in many cases the seed 

 of Alpine plants is a long while germinating, especially 

 if the seed is not quite fresh, and on no account should 

 a pot of seed be given up as hopeless for at least 

 eighteen months or two years. Only last year, on 

 January 2nd, 1911, I sowed a pot of seed, purchased 

 on the Continent, of Sax. thessalica nothing whatever 

 " showed up " till February 27th, 1912, when quite a 

 nice crop of seedlings put in an appearance. 



As a rule I find it best to sow the seed, which I save 

 from my own plants, immediately it is ripe, irrespective 

 of the time of year, and it is usual for it then to 

 germinate promptly, whereas if I keep it for only two 

 months, or so, it may hang fire for quite a long while. 



To take a recent example, showing that this is by 

 no means an unalterable rule however, I may mention 

 that the plant of Sax. Griesebachii, illustrated on page 65, 

 produced quite a nice quantity of seed. I gathered 



