86 THE NEW GARDENING 



than two inches exposed, because except in the interest 

 of unaccompanied visitors it is not necessary to write 

 the names in full. " Sax. dec." conveys as much to a 

 flower-lover who knows that he has a Saxifraga decipiens 

 in his collection as " Crys. Ferr. Perchlor." does to a 

 dispensing chemist surrounded by an array of bottles with 

 abbreviated labels. Wooden tallies may require renewal 

 once a year. A " Wolff " garden pencil will be found 

 excellent in writing wooden labels. 



In watering rock plants during dry spells in summer 

 overhead sprinkling through a large rose is preferable 

 to pocket watering through a spout, because not only 

 are the plants equally refreshed, but the hot surface of 

 the stones is cooled, and an atmosphere of cool humidity is 

 created. 



The glass-covering in winter which is spoken of in 

 connection with certain Alpines has nothing to do with 

 the question of hardiness, but of the impatience which, 

 some woolly-leaved kinds display of overhead moisture 

 in the winter. They enjoy root humidity, but suffer from 

 repeated saturation of the foliage. A square of glass 

 set above them throws the rain off the leaves, but does 

 not prevent its reaching the roots. The squares should 

 be put on in October and removed in March, when there 

 is generally plenty of sunshine to dry the leaves after 

 rain. 



Whatever style of Alpine gardens whether they be 

 " new " or " old," made with much stone or little 

 there is one visitor the catholicity of whose tastes is 

 such that he is never bored, saddened or irritated, 

 and that is the slug. He will tolerate the most rampant 

 rockdom so long as there are plants about it. He must 

 be looked for whenever pleasant hours are being spent 

 among the plants. There must be an eye for the flowers 



