58 Alpine Plants. 
evenly over the surface of the bed, and again tread 
all over to make as firm as possible; then level the 
surface and begin to plant, taking care that in plant- 
ing the sand goes well down to the roots. As each 
plant is put in its place, it must be pressed as firm as 
possible and almost covered out of sight. After the 
plants are all in, dress the surface again with a thin 
covering of sand, water with a fine rose, and then 
leave for a few days to settle. If very hot, in order 
to keep the sun from drying the soil too soon, a few 
branches may be laid over the bed and left on for a 
week, by which time the plants will have got over 
their check and the branches may be removed with 
safety. During the hot weather, a good watering 
will be needed every third morning. After the 
plants have flowered they should be top-dressed, 
first nipping off the old flower-stems, for these are 
very fine and the wind has great power over them 
and will soon twist and break them off, as in 
cultivation they are without that support which the 
grass of their native meadows and wild pastures 
affords. Besides being indispensable to renewed 
growth, a top-dressing of sand and leaf-mould in 
equal parts is also of great value to stay the wiry 
shoots from blowing about and becoming broken off. 
If leaf-mould cannot be obtained for this purpose, a 
mixture of one part loam to three parts sand should 
be used instead. Before use the loam or leaf-mould 
should be put through a tin. riddle, and only the 
part which comes through employed to top-dress 
with. In top-dressing, fill the plants well up to 
the shoulder, merely leaving out the tips. This 
