CHAPTER XII 

 THE PROPAGATION OF ALPINE PLANTS 



REGARDED collectively propagation is a phase 

 of the subject which more closely concerns the 

 commercial aspect of the case albeit not a few amateurs 

 are anxious to have a finger in the same pie. The com- 

 mercial grower has to "create" stock of necessity to 

 meet a demand, the amateur doing so in minor degree 

 as the outcome of enthusiasm, and to see the results 

 of his own handiwork. If, in the latter case, the desire 

 leads to the increase of valuable stock, it makes for 

 progress and the general good by increasing that 

 sphere of interest which stimulates expansion and 

 extension. The interest spreads, too, among friends 

 and acquaintances, hence alpine plant cultivation re- 

 ceives a gentle all-round impetus. 



Methods of Propagation. — Alpine plants are increased 

 by the generally accepted methods of cuttings, division 

 or separation of the tufts, and by seeds. The two 

 former are the methods invented by man, the latter is 

 Nature's own. Each, however, is important to the 

 gardener, and should be indulged in as circumstances 

 demand and allow. In some few instances all three 

 are possible ; in others, some may be either impossible 

 or impracticable. For example, Ramondia, Haberlea 

 and Primulas generally cannot be increased by means 

 of cuttings, though the two first-named genera are 

 reproduced abundantly from seeds, the latter submit- 

 ting well to division of the root-stock while also com- 

 ing freely from seeds. Much definite information on 

 this head will, however, be found in the tabulated lists 

 appended to many of the chapters. 



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