THE NEW ROCK GARDENING 87 



and an eye for the slugs. He must be looked for under 

 the masses of growth which some plants form ; and under 

 which he loves to lurk. If there are small, choice plants 

 which cannot make headway under his attacks it may 

 be advisable to set rings of zinc, about the size of a 

 man's collar, and with a serrated upper edge, around them. 

 These collars do not add to the beauty of the rockery, 

 and should only be used in case of real necessity ; but 

 keen plantsmen never hesitate when the good of their 

 flowers is in question. A general infestation of a garden 

 with slugs should be met with repeated night dustings 

 with fresh, dry lime ; or with liberal applications of lime- 

 water. What reduces slugs in the garden generally 

 should tend to reduce them in the rockery, and hand- 

 picking there is rendered less laborious if the pests of 

 the outer garden are decimated by quicker means. 



The true flower-lover who has a fair amount of leisure 

 will have every plant under constant observation, and 

 will see that its requirements are met as need arises. 

 Those who can only give the lightest of touches day by 

 day should try to spare time for a good overhaul two or 

 three times a year. If the soil has become close from 

 excessive moisture it can be pricked up and some gritty 

 compost or limestone or sandstone chippings sprinkled 

 on. It is a good rule to keep the soil up to the level of 

 what is called the " collar " of the plant, that is, the 

 point of branching from the stem. A little 3-tined hand- 

 fork a mere child's tool only six inches long is very 

 handy for stirring the soil between Alpines ; and certainly 

 a weekly forking does good both by keeping down weeds 

 and promoting growth. There are, however, many kinds 

 which carpet the ground too closely for such an operation 

 to be practised. 



