PLANTING AND GENERAL HINTS 31 



are small and numerous they should be spread out well 

 in a hole made large enough to hold them comfortably. 

 Plants with a tap root a long, unbranched root that goes 

 straight down are more difficult to establish ; they should 

 be given a deep root run, the tap root being placed in 

 as natural a position as practicable. It is advisable to 

 give water to newly planted alpines, so that the soil 

 may be well settled about them, and finally to add a 

 little more soil. 



Planting in Rock Crevices. The work of planting 

 in rock crevices needs especial care, for it is there that 

 failure to pack the soil closely about the roots is most 

 likely to occur. Small plants are necessary. When it 

 has been ascertained how deeply the plant's roots will go, 

 the crevice should be filled to the necessary depth with 

 a suitable soil mixture made thoroughly firm by ramming 

 with a flat-bottomed piece of wood. It is impossible 

 to do so after the plant is inserted. The plant is then 

 put in, the roots are covered with soil, and the crevice v 

 is filled, the soil being made quite firm as it is put in. | 

 It is necessary to insert certain plants flat against the j 

 face of a perpendicular rock, their roots being laid in a \ 

 horizontal fissure ; some of the Silvery Saxifrages, the 

 Ramondia and some of the Rock Primulas are commonly 

 so planted. The practice in this case is first to fill the 

 base of the crevice, then to place a layer of soil on its lowest 

 side, lay the roots on this and gradually fill in from above, 

 making the soil thoroughly firm as the work proceeds. 

 Small pieces of stone introduced in the compost help to 



