THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
241 
determining if there is anything detrimental to tlie 
growth of the plants in that particular spot where plants 
have died. 
The majority of the alpines are easily propagated, 
either by seed, division or cuttings. The seed is best 
sown in the late fall or in February, in pots in a warm 
frame, division in the fall, and cuttings in the early 
spring. Divisions and seedlings should be wintered over 
in cold frames, and be thoroughly hardened off before 
attempting to plant them in their permanent positions, 
generally by the end of April. 
It may be found necessary to renew the soil in some 
of the pockets, or even replace entirely, as it will drift 
and wash away after heavy deluges of rain, and the 
weathering of frost and snow. 
I may say that the best soil for rock gardens should 
consist of peat or leaf mould plentifully mixed with any 
loose gravelly soil, though there will be some of the 
])lants that will require something richer than this, and 
to satisfy their needs, the ordinary rock garden mixture 
could be improved with the addition of well-rotted barn- 
yard manure, which must be thoroughly decayed before 
use, and also turfy loam. 
In conclusion it may be said that rock garden always 
repays the interest the possessor may lavish on it, care- 
ful attention to the individual needs of the plants, to see 
which are improving or deteriorating, keeping down the 
stronger growers from overcrowding the more delicate 
subjects, observing if any of the shrubs are excluding 
the sunshine from their neighbors that are dependent on 
it ; careful watering during the torrid heat of summer, 
and should extreme lowness of temperature be prevalent 
in the winter, protection with pine boughs or clean straw, 
this protection being mostly needed on the southern 
aspects, as here, it will be found, a constant thawing and 
freezing will soon play havoc with the alpines. 
Care and Companionship of Trees 
FOR those who are interested in the culture and care 
of trees and shrubs, there is always something to be 
done, biit the springtime is the busiest season of all. 
In this northern clime spring may be three months long 
according to the calendar, but actual spring, the period 
of nature's awakening, is frequently little more than half 
as long. Its advent is generally delayed by cold winds 
and frost for several weeks and then comes suddenly, 
bringing with it an amount of pressing work out of all 
proportion to the time allowed for its completion. Such 
important duties as planting, spraying, fertilizing, and 
cultivation, are all crowded into the few busy weeks, of 
our abbreviated springtime, and the ownei- or caretaker 
of trees who attends to them all in the right way at the 
right time, finds few spare moments. 
But nature seldom fails to offer ample compensation. 
If the spring's imperative work has been well done, the 
advent of summer ushers in a period of comparative leis- 
ure, a time for the enjoyment of the objects for which we 
have so rigorously toiled. These rare June days invite 
us to draw near to nature's heart, to live out in the open 
under the trees and amid the flowers. Surely there is no 
greater enjoyment than that which comes from close com- 
panionship with these common things of the out-door 
world. How richly do they repay us for all the care be- 
stowed upon them. Through these long summer days 
trees contribute in a thousand ways to our comfort and 
health. So that no matter how much we may do for them 
we shall always find ourselves in their debt if we attempt 
to strike a balance. 
But no one who ardently loves trees ever counts the 
cost of their care, or estimates their value on a dollar and 
cents basis. His view-point is entirely different from that 
of the lumberman. And fortunate it is for this country 
that the number of those who value trees for their shade, 
ornament, and health-giving qualities, is constantly in- 
creasing. To such public-spirited tree lovers are we in- 
debted for our beautiful city parks and shady streets, and 
the attractions of the many charming country homes and 
suburban estates, where trees and shrubs are generously 
planted and properly cared for. The beneficial influence 
upon human life of these public and private tree planta- 
tions cannot be estimated. 
Shade trees on the lawn and all about the farm home 
are also very essential for the adornment of the home. 
Hardly a home, whether in town or country, but has its 
trees. . . . Who would care to spend any time at 
all in treeless valleys, hills, or mountains? A seat in the 
shade of the maple and elm, a walk in the "cool, quiet 
aisles of the woodland," the "sleep-song of the whisper- 
ing leaves" at night; these are among the sweetest and 
most pleasurable experiences of any vacation. In fact 
they are the very things that bring rest and recreation, 
that make "going away" worth while. 
Those who are born and reared in the country where 
trees are plentiful quite often seem to lack a proper ap- 
preciation, do not seem to fully realize their worth, prob- 
ably because of their very commonness. But if necessity 
or the prospect of broader opportunity takes them away 
to the city, how soon do they realize their loss and begin 
to long for a home where they may again enjoy the com- 
panionship of the trees. This longing born of a remem- 
brance of the old, shady nooks and the beauties of wood- 
land and the tree studded landscape surrounding the old 
country home leads many a city dweller back to nature. 
And so, all about our large cities are springing up thou- 
sands of comfortable homes and large estates where the 
owners find recreation and pleasure in beautifying their 
grounds with trees and shrubs, in transforming a bit of 
bare land into a veritable Eden where life is really worth 
living. 
Trees are indispensable as home companions. "We 
need the sight of them for our eyes, and the comfort of 
them for our hearts." To one who knows them intimately 
they are like old friends, invested with a never-fading 
charm, unaft'ected by changing seasons, inspiring and 
beautiful alike in winter or summer. Whoever has had 
a tree-shaded home, no matter how humble, can appre- 
ciate this fact, and though he may not readily perceive 
it, the trees thus intimately associated with his dailv life. 
have had a powerful influence upon his thoughts and 
actions. 
From a sentimental and aesthetic standpoint alone, to 
say nothing of their commercial importance, it pays to 
plant and tend trees. No home is complete without them, 
and something vital is lacking in the life of any individual 
who has not known the inspiration and comfort of their 
companionship. How richly do the trees compensate us 
for all the labor expended in their care, and these long 
summer days afford abundant opportunity for their 
grateful enjoyment. — From Tree Talk. 
