32 ROGK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



keep the plant firm, and similar pieces placed round 

 about the neck of the plant at the entrance to the crevice 

 will serve further to ensure its stability. 



In bright, dry weather shading with light tiffany is 

 advisable for a few days. A flower-pot is often made 

 to serve the purpose, but it is not so suitable. Practically 

 all the choicer alpines benefit by a covering of broken 

 stone or gravel placed on the soil ; this serves to pre- 

 vent loss of moisture by evaporation, and is especially 

 beneficial to those freshly planted. Failing broken stone 

 or gravel, a few ordinary stones may be used to the 

 same end. Newly planted shrubs ought really to be 

 supported by a small stake to prevent their being blown 

 about. 



Some General Hints The special care of alpines 

 during summer and winter is considered in another 

 chapter, but a few general hints may now be given. 

 Attention, for example, is necessary to prevent strong- 

 growing plants from overgrowing the smaller and 

 choicer sorts. It is hopeless to expect these to thrive 

 when they are jostled by others of rampant growth, 

 but the exercise of a little judgment at planting time 

 will enable one to avoid this difficulty. The strong 

 growers should be cut back whenever necessary, and 

 the best time to do this is immediately the flowering 

 season is past. Some plants send up underground shoots 

 or runners, and are peculiarly troublesome ; watch 

 should be kept upon them lest they destroy some precious 

 and less robust neighbour. Timely propagation is essential 



