CHAPTER VIII 

 Increasing Alpines by Division and Cuttings 



WHILE numerous alpines are best raised from seeds, 

 some are more conveniently or necessarily pro- 

 pagated by division or cuttings. 



Division may be carried out in early spring, in summer, 

 or in autumn. Plants that bloom in spring are as a 

 rule best divided in late August or early September, 

 those that bloom in early summer immediately after 

 the flowers are over, and those of late summer and 

 early autumn flowering may be divided in March. The' 

 plants are taken up, carefully pulled to pieces, the outside 

 portions of the clumps only being replanted. This is 

 especially necessary in dealing with plants that form 

 large cushions or tufts, such as some of the Campanulas 

 and Saxifrages of the Mossy and Kabschia sections. 

 The sizes of the pieces or " divisions " will depend on 

 the size of the parent clump and the number of fresh 

 plants required. Generally every piece having a few 

 roots will grow if treated carefully, but it is not advisable 

 to divide plants in such a drastic fashion. In the case 

 of plants with thick rootstocks, as some of the Primulas, 

 for example, a sharp knife should be employed to cut 

 them through. Some, such as Hepatica, are difficult 



47 



