115 



form the best means of protection. These should 

 not be used until the ground is frozen, or plants 

 may damp off, and mice harbor and cause de- 

 struction under the leaves. 



Generally speaking, more especially where 

 the space is limited, all plants with running, 

 fast-spreading root-stalks should be avoided. 

 Some of the harebells, for instance, desirable as 

 they otherwise would be, are objectionable on 

 this account. They must be hemmed in or have 

 sufficient space, otherwise they encroach upon 

 and soon smother their delicate neighbors. 

 Some free seeding plants are also to be guarded 

 against. The Sedum, in many of its forms, is a 

 pest, and with very few exceptions should never 

 be introduced among rare and beautiful plants. 

 I know of a rock-garden, admirably constructed 

 at great cost, which had to be virtually torn 

 apart to get rid of the Sedum. 



The way really to enjoy the cultivation of 

 Alpine plants is to build a new rock-garden 

 every year, says Rev. Wolley Dod, one of Eng- 

 land's most distinguished plant-culturists and 

 botanists. I have been content with two thus 

 far, and, so great is the enjoyment they afford, I 

 shall supplement them with a fern rock-garden, 

 for the smaller and more delicate ferns. 



When referring to the toad, I omitted to 



