FORGET-ME-NOTS 
(ByJ.H. H.) 
Under each item listed herein the plant’s or¬ 
iginal habitat and its needs are briefly stated. 
Instructions given must be modified in localities 
where climatic extremes prevail. The further 
South plants are moved the more shade they 
need. In London’s fog and rain they require no 
shade— that is why English authors are often 
misleading to the unwary. 
About half of our western plants, including 
bulbs, attain their best development among 
rocks, variously shaded by trees or shrubs. 
Alpines and subalpines are best kept hungry; 
they can’t stand rich food, poor drainage or 
retentive soil near crowns. Mulch them with 
crushed rock or creek gravel. “Alpine” as used 
herein refers to plants which grow above timber- 
line. “Subalpine,” to plants from high altitudes. 
Woodland plants usually thrive in rich sandy 
loam, more or less acid. Forest mold or peat 
mull for mulching these. 
Rock Gardens which have shaded areas, wet 
and dry sections, and sunny spots, allow great 
range in variety. Any one soil mixture, or one- 
way-for-all methods are not for wildlings. 
Many dry-land plants are slow in making root 
growth. Thorough watering is necessary until 
they are well established. 
In addition to ordinary garden problems the 
rock-bog-scree-etc garden requires knowledge of 
various soils—acid, neutral, alkaline —and there’s 
need of a few books to explain the effect of cer¬ 
tain minerals. The limit is—all yours. 
