ALPINE PLANTS. 
INTRODUCTION. 
MosT Alpine plants are quite easy to grow, but all 
are not so; and the aim of this little treatise is simply 
to set forth, in the case of these more especially, such 
a method of planting, choice of soil, position, and 
after-treatment, as experience has shown to have 
satisfactory results, 
Any practical system for the culture of Alpines 
must be based upon an intelligent recognition of 
the primary importance of three things: drainage, 
mixture of composts, and periodic top-dressing. 
A brief statement of why these things are so 
important will serve to impress the sense of how 
vitally important they are. 
The primary aim of drainage is to promote 
the percolation of water and air throughout the 
soil. 
Good drainage enables the rain or other surface 
water to descend readily into the soil, and pro- 
motes the rapid escape of its “free” portion from 
the soil, which is thus prevented from becoming 
either sodden or sour; while at the same time it 
is unhindered from retaining in suspension the 
B 
