Gardening for Amateurs 



591 



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Alpine flowers growing on a bank of soil without rocks. 



they are able to support a sheet of glass. 

 This is sufficient covering for all except a 

 few very difficult sorts which need to have 

 sheets of glass at the sides also, though 

 they must not be joined closely at the 

 edges. 



Care must be taken to see that strong- 

 growing subjects do not encroach upon 

 and choke others more delicate. Many 

 plants are greatly improved by being cut 

 back after flowering. Among 

 these are Aubrietia, Iberis, 

 Helianthemum, Arabis, Phlox, 

 Alyssum, etc. The shoots are 

 shortened immediately after the 

 flowers are over, then fresh 

 growth appears from towards the 

 centres of the plants, thus keep- 

 ing them compact and neat. 

 The worst weeds are those that 

 produce underground suckers, 

 of which the Goutweed may be 

 taken as an example. Ranun- 

 culus Tormentilla is another 

 troublesome weed, while Chick- 

 weed, Groundsel, and Shepherd's 

 Purse are frequently in evidence. 



Snails and slugs are very 

 destructive ; the usual traps 

 such as bran, cabbage leaves, 

 lettuce leaves are helpful in 

 reducing their numbers, but a 



great deal may be done by 

 hand - picking. The amateur 

 soon discovers those plants most 

 liable to attack, and a tour of 

 the garden on a moist evening 

 with a light will soon enable 

 him to find and destroy many 

 slugs. Certain plants, such as 

 Aubrietia, Arabis, and others 

 that form spreading tufts, pro- 

 vide ideal harbour for slugs, 

 and by lifting up the shoots 

 many slugs may be caught. 

 Very choice alpines may be pro- 

 tected by rings of perforated 

 zinc. Many newly - set plants 

 are lost in winter owing to their 

 being lifted by the frost. As 

 soon as a thaw comes they 

 should be pressed back into 

 position. If the frost continues 

 and some of the roots are raised above 

 the surface, a little top-dressing of soil will 

 often save them. 



When alpines show signs of weakness they 

 may be assisted to form stronger growth by 

 watering once or twice a week with diluted 

 liquid manure, prepared by soaking a little 

 old cow manure in water, the liquid not 

 being thicker or darker in colour than weak 

 tea. Finely powdered, dry cow-dung may 



Masses of Aubrietia and Arabis on a bank of soil. 



