THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



831 



decomposed stone, eitlier micatious or calcareous. A soil coin- 

 posed of iialf maiden light sandy loam, and half heath or peat 

 earth, will be found to suit nine-tenths of the plants entering 

 into this species of garden. Some few require calcareous 

 matter to grow them in perfection, either chalk or fragments 

 of limestone pounded down, or a portion of lime rubbish, or 

 all mixed witii a little light loam, will be as good as any for 

 this purpose. 



Others require bog-mould, or entire decayed vegetable 

 matter, to bring them to perfection, such as Rubus chamoe- 

 moris, li. arliciis, and others, while some seem to exist upon 

 vegetable matter while yet in a state of life ; such, for in- 

 stance, as Drosera rolnnd/folia, D. longifoUa, &c., which 

 Hre cultivated, as well as many of the curious plants of the 

 order Orclndccc^ in masses of moist and living Sphagnum. 

 Manure seldom enters into the compositions for growing rock 

 plants ; indeed, in general, it is injurious rather than beneficial. 

 A pure, exposed, airy situation, which is kept cool during the 

 excessive heats of summer by the application of plenty of 

 water, copiously given over-head to refresh them, at such times 

 when the sun is off them, and to cool the surrounding air, 

 seems the mode of cultivation most corresponding to their na- 

 tures. In cultivating a collection of choice Alpine plants, or 

 such as pass under that denomination, it is necessary, for the 

 preservation of each species, that at least one plant or two 

 should be kept in pots ; as, when planted out upon the rock, 

 they are in danger of being overrun by their more rambling 

 neighbours, or destroyed by damp in autumn, or excessive 

 cold in winter. To prevent disappointment, and the loss of 

 any valuable species, a collection should be kept in pots, 

 which need not be large ; the size known by the name of large 

 sixties will be found sufficient for the greatest portion of them; 

 and a collection so kept has its beauties, when arranged in a 

 neat manner in the rock garden during summer upon a bed 

 formed of finely-sifted coal-ashes, and kept neat and clean ; 

 while during winter they ought to be plunged up to the brim 

 almost in the same material, and carefully covered with frames 

 and glasses, so that they may be kept as dry as possible, and 

 frequently examined, to remove all mouldiness, or appearance 

 of damp or decayed leaves. We have cultivated for some years 



