SS2 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



past extensive collections of these interesting little plants, and 

 found them to succeed to our wishes by adopting the following 

 treatment : — 



When the plants begin to vegetate in spring, but not before, 

 they should be examined, and those which are in want of 

 shifting should be separated into two or more pieces, according 

 to the nature of the plant, and each separate piece be potted 

 in a pot of the same size, if it be wished to have the number 

 of the species much increased. Where it is desired to have 

 only a stock sufficient to preserve each species, then instead 

 of potting each piece into which they are divided, we have 

 planted them out on the rock to make up deficiencies; or when 

 they were not wanted for that purpose, we have planted them 

 on the tops of walls, or in other situations agreeing with their 

 respective natures. We do not recommend to shift all the 

 collection at one stated time, all fixed periods for such pur- 

 poses being radically wrong ; plants should only be shifted or 

 repotted when they require it, and not promiscuously, merely 

 because it is spring, summer, or autumn. At a more advanced 

 period of the season they should be gone over again, and di- 

 vided or propagated, as they require it. When all danger of 

 frost is over in spring, they should be all removed from their 

 winter quarters, and placed on prepared beds of finely-sifted 

 coal-ashes placed closely together. The ground under such 

 covering of ashes should be previously prepared, by being 

 formed of prepared clay, to the depth of a foot or more, and, 

 when finished, a few inches higher at the sides than in the 

 middle, for the purpose of more readily retaining water ; for 

 although most Alpine plants require to be kept dry during a 

 great part of the year, still they seem to thrive better when 

 their roots are kept cool, and this is partly attained by keep- 

 ing the bed upon which they stand rather damp, particularly 

 during the heats of summer. Worm>^, which are also a great 

 annoyance to all plants in pots, will not so readily reach them, 

 being less fond of living in the strong clay than in richer 

 garden-mould. 



Alpine plants, arranged in pots of llic same size, and neatly 

 numbered, or their names painted on neat labels, will be 

 rather a pleasing object. Care should ])e taken in labelling 

 all plants, to adopt labels bearing some proportion to the 



