well. The rocks and stones must be so laid that every bed 

 or pocket in which the plants are to grow is thoroughly well 

 drained, for nothing is so destructive to them as water-logging 

 of the soil. Plants that grow in the clefts of rocks should be 

 planted in a sloping position, as water is then less liable to 

 collect in the rosettes of leaves. Those that grow in cool, 

 moist, spongy soil are best planted in a mixture of peat moss 

 and earth. It is also important to notice whether the plant 

 which is being cultivated was previously growing on lime- 

 stone or granitic soil, for it is easy to add a little chalk to 

 the earth if this is required. In planting out one has to be 

 careful not to curl up the roots, and it is wise to sprinkle 

 the plant with water two or three times a day for the first 

 week or so. Alpine plants should never be manured. It 

 should be remembered that mountain plants grow slowly, 

 and though very many species can be successfully cultivated, 

 the Houseleeks and Saxifrages are likely to give the best 

 results with a minimum of trouble. 



It is impossible in such a book as this to give more 

 than a few general suggestions as to the photography of 

 Alpine plants. One of the chief difficulties with which one 

 has to contend is the wind. When the plant is photographed 

 anywhere near its natural size the smallest stop has to be 

 used to obtain depth of focus, and this greatly increases 

 the duration of the exposure. Many of the colour photo- 

 graphs herein reproduced were given as long as five or ten 

 minutes. When the wind is intermittent it is quite safe to 



xxv 



