Gardening for Amateurs 



593 



nurserymen, but it requires attention dur- 

 ing the day which cannot be given by all 

 amateurs. From late in May until the end 

 of July the cuttings are put in pure sand in 

 closed frames placed in full sun. No shading 

 should be applied, but the cuttings must be 

 kept constantly moist, or they will not form 

 roots. As soon as the cuttings are rooted 

 they are gradually hardened off. 



Alpines from Seed. The seed of alpine 

 plants should be sown as soon as ripe when 

 possible ; when purchased from seedsmen it 

 is most generally supplied in spring, and is 

 then best sown in March. Seed may be 

 sown either in pots or pans, those of 4| inches 

 diameter are suitable ; 

 the pots are filled a 

 third of their depth with 

 drainage in the form of 

 broken pots, which is 

 covered with a thin layer 

 of moss or other rough 

 material. Suitable soil 

 consists of 2 parts of 

 sifted loam, 1 each of 

 sand and leaf-soil, and a 

 small quantity of finely- 

 broken stone chips. Place 

 the pots of soil in a tank 

 or bath and flood with 

 boiling water, as this 

 destroys all animal and 

 vegetable life in the soil, 

 and the plants that re- 

 sult are the direct pro- 

 duct of the seed sown. 

 A few minutes in the 

 boiling water suffices. 



Seed of alpines varies 

 in size to a great ex- 

 tent, Ramondias, the 

 smaller Campanulas, some 

 Pinks, Papaver alpinum, 

 and Erinus are among 

 those having very small 

 seed, which barely re- 

 quires covering, while 

 Androsace, Alyssum, 

 Arenaria montana, and 

 Iberis are typical large 

 seeds, and may safely be 

 covered to a depth of 

 about J inch. A very 

 38 



fine sieve is required for this work, and can 

 readily be made by constructing a rough 

 frame of -inch wood, measuring 9 inches by 

 12 inches and some 4 inches deep, and tacking 

 on a small square of the perforated zinc used 

 by ironmongers for covering meat safes. 

 Seed should be sown thinly, and when the 

 pans or pots are finished stand them in a 

 greenhouse or frame and cover each with a 

 small square of glass, which should be wiped 

 dry every day. During periods of bright 

 sunshine it is advisable to shade with sheets 

 of paper. As soon as the seed begins to 

 germinate the glass covers on the pots 

 should be tilted slightly to admit air ; 



Photo: R. A. Matty, 



Spanish Irises and Silvery Saxifrages in the rock garden. 



