28 ROCK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



a brilliant show of bloom it is far better to plant generous 

 groups of a few kinds than one plant only of many 

 sorts, though a collection so formed would lose in interest 

 owing to lack of variety. If the reader would have a 

 representative collection in the small rockery, he must 

 needs be content with comparatively few plants of each 

 sort. Besides, it is really far more interesting to choose 

 plants that will give a prolonged season of bloom than 

 to have a brilliant show at one time and a pronounced 

 blank a little later. One should endeavour to have 

 three plants of each kind if only for the sake of ex- 

 periment, for often, though one may give it all that it 

 apparently needs, a plant will refuse to thrive, while 

 another in a different position will progress and prove 

 an immense success. This is especially the case with 

 some of the more difficult sorts. In dealing with the 

 commoner kinds no such trouble is likely to be ex- 

 perienced, and they should be grouped together. 



A group of three is more satisfying than a group of 

 two, but with scarce or expensive kinds the reader 

 may have to content himself with a single plant. This 

 may usually be increased without difficulty within the 

 course of a year or so. There is even an advantage in 

 beginning with only one plant of a kind, for one soon 

 learns how best to increase it, and raising alpines from 

 seed or cuttings or by division is fascinating work. The 

 kind of plant one is buying should determine whether 

 or not more than one is necessary ; for instance, while 

 three plants of Saxifraga Burseriana would be required 



