io8 ROCK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



of the chief essentials to success. The hole or holes in 

 the base are carefully covered with crocks (pieces of 

 broken flower-pot), and the flower-pan is then made 

 half-full of crocks and small pieces of stone, so that there 

 shall be no possibility of stagnant moisture about the 

 roots. Such thorough drainage as this is necessary for 

 most of the small alpines, though for bulbs of various 

 sorts and for bigger plants the drainage need not occupy 

 more than one-quarter of the depth of the flower-pan or 

 pot. A soil mixture suitable for the majority consists of 

 two-thirds turfy soil, one-third leaf-soil, with plenty of 

 grit or silver sand intermixed. Small pieces of sand- 

 stone may, with advantage, be half-buried among the 

 alpines ; it tends to keep the soil cool and moist. Some 

 variation in the compost becomes necessary in dealing 

 with special plants ; for instance, for all the silvery 

 or grey-leaved kinds one should mix in a few pieces of 

 limestone (lime rubble or old plaster will do) ; for such 

 as Lithospermum, the moisture-loving Primulas, some 

 of the hardy Orchids, and others, peat is needed, but 

 reference to the descriptive list towards the end of the 

 book will provide the reader with a clue to the special 

 soil mixture, if any is needed. As for the potting, this 

 should be done with as great care as possible, to avoid 

 damage to the roots. A little prepared soil is first 

 spread over the drainage, the plants are then put in, 

 the roots being made firm. A few pieces of sandstone 

 among the soil help to ensure firmness, and, as already 

 mentioned, other pieces may be used on the surface. 



