THE ROCKERY 79 



their places as to provide crevices in which the plants can 

 be set. 



The filling in of the crevices with soil needs careful attention. 

 It will not be enough to put soil in loosely, so that when the first 

 heavy rains come it will be washed away into the drainage. The 

 mould must be pressed down firmly and rammed hard if the 

 crevices are fairly deep, as they should be. 



Next the questions what to plant and when to plant need con- 

 sideration. At the outset the amateur should confine his atten- 

 tion to a few of the commoner kinds of Alpines, and avoid over- 

 crowding, so that the stronger plants do not smother the weaker. 

 As the cultivator becomes better versed in the habits and re- 

 quirements of his plants he can add gradually to his collection. 



Here are a few suggestions for the first purchases, divided into 

 convenient sections : 



For Sunny Positions 

 Saxifraga (in variety). 

 Silene (in variety). 

 Androsace carnea (pink). 

 Dianthus (Alpine pinks, in variety). 

 Campanula (Alpine " hare-bells "). 

 Primula (in variety, early flowering). 



For Shady Positions 



Ramondia (Pyrenean violet, moisture-loving). 

 Gentiana (Alpine gentians, shrubby). 

 Gaultheria (trailing plants). 

 Sedum (stonecrops). 

 Pulmonaria (Virginia cowslips). 

 Viola pedata (Alpine varieties). 

 Cyclamen (spring and early summer flowering). 



For Dry Positions 



Sempervivum (two to six inches high, indispensable rock plants). 

 Helianthemum (rock roses). 

 Draba (early flowering). 



