144 Alpine Plants. 
wireworm. It is hardly necessary to specify the 
need for clean pots and pans of various sizes, broken 
crocks and rubble for drainage, and efficient labels. 
A sunk sand-bed in which to bed pots of stock is 
almost indispensable, and cold frames are little less 
useful in which to raise it. 
When it is possible, the ground in which planting 
is to be done should be watered the day before, if 
at all dry. Before planting, each ball of earth or 
mass of roots should be dipped into a bucket of 
water until well soaked through; and on planting 
each insertion should be pressed and “ built” against 
the side of the cavity made for its reception, before 
filling in the hole with soil and pressing downwards, 
both operations being performed firmly but gently. 
Roots, especially when exposed, should never be 
cramped or forced in planting, but always humoured. 
In planting it is desirable to use coarse silver sand, 
if it can be procured, in preference to the ordinary 
sand previously used. It is a golden rule to study 
the “natural history” of plants as regards their native 
home and normal experience, their favourable soil 
and favourite aspect, for their own sake, no less 
carefully than their height, colour, habit, and season 
of flowering, for our own pleasure. Such labour is 
certain to be rewarded. On the rockery, at any rate, 
every plant and each kind of plant needs individual 
thought, individual care, and individual provision if 
its culture is to yield the most successful results 
possible. 
