CHAPTER VII 

 Alpine Flowers from Seeds 



GROWING alpines from seeds is a cheap and most 

 interesting way of obtaining a large number of 

 plants. A packet of seeds often costs less than a single 

 plant, and seedlings are invariably vigorous. Some trouble, 

 of course, is involved, but those who have the time 

 to devote to it will find the raising of alpines from 

 seed full of pleasure and the results altogether satis- 

 factory. Most alpines come true from seeds, though 

 some cannot be relied upon to do so, as the flowers 

 become cross-fertilised by the pollen of others near by, 

 and the seedlings show considerable variation. Saxifrages, 

 especially the Silver-leaved sorts, and Campanulas are 

 among those most likely to vary from seed, but there 

 is sometimes the compensation that good new varieties 

 may be obtained. 



When to Sow. Seeds saved from home-grown plants 

 are best sown as soon as ripe. They should first be 

 spread on a sheet of paper in a sunny greenhouse for a 

 few days to dry thoroughly. Seeds are commonly 

 offered for sale in spring, and are sown at that season ; 

 they do not, however, usually germinate so quickly as 

 seeds sown as soon as gathered. Some seedsmen now 



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