94 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



stock, and that sub-division is practically impossible. 

 On the other hand seedling plants put out in rows nine 

 inches apart in summer from spring-sown seed make 

 splendid httle clumps by autumn, when they will 

 come in very useful for naturalising and for setting 

 amongst bulbs. They will begin to grow fast directly 

 the grip of winter relaxes, and they will keep on grow- 

 ing until early summer. As the new growth flowers 

 as fast as it forms, there are soon broad masses of 

 bloom, all the result of a few seeds. 



The double white Arabis is propagated by taking 

 off young side growths with a few fibres, and inserting 

 them in moist, sandy soil as cuttings. They may be 

 rooted out of doors, but it is better to put them in 

 boxes of gritty soil in a frame, because then they can 

 be kept quite under control, and given such attention 

 in the way of shading and watering as is needed. 

 This is an extremely useful plant, and one which ought 

 to be grown in quantity. 



When the flower-lover has " got his hand in '' at 

 raising hardy plants from seed he will probably be so 

 impressed with the merits of this method of propa- 

 gation as a means of getting large numbers of plants 

 at a low cost as to be desirous of extending it. There 

 is no reason why many beautiful things should not be 

 increased thus. In the selections of Alpine plants 

 given in a later chapter a hst of kinds that come 

 readily from seed is included. Although some might 

 be sown out of doors there can never be any mistake 

 in sowing in a cold frame, using pans (wide, flat, 

 earthenware saucers) or shallow boxes. A soil which 



