peat moss, broken rotted wood or even saw dust. Some¬ 
times aluminum sulphate or alum is used for the same pur¬ 
pose. Unless otherwise stated, plants are easily grown in 
well-drained garden soil. 
When planting, dig holes of ample size to receive the 
roots. Plants should be planted as deep, or preferably a 
little deeper than they grew in the nursery. The roots 
should be spread out as much as possible and the soil worked 
in among them. Small bulbs should be planted rather deep, 
three to four inches, and lily bulbs even deeper, at least 
six inches. The distance apart at which plants and bulbs 
should be planted should be determined largely by their 
character of growth; tall plants may require one and one- 
half to two feet; spreading plants fifteen inches or more; 
while some small plants and bulbs may be planted as close 
as four to six inches. 
As a general rule, the best time to plant any plant is 
when it is dormant. With the greater number of plants 
this occurs in late summer, fall or early spring.. As a gen¬ 
eral rule too, it is best to plant in fall those plants which 
blossom very early in spring. This includes spring bloom¬ 
ing bulbs, and such other plants as blossom in April or 
early May. By planting in fall, such plants have a chance 
to get established before blooming time. Another group of 
plants which are seldom successfully planted in spring are 
those which make a fall growth or start into growth so 
early in spring that they cannot be readily handled without 
injury to the young shoots. These include such plants as 
Peonies and Dicentra Spectabilis. Oriental Poppies have a 
habit of going dormant prematurely when planted in spring 
and lose a year’s growth as a result, and should be planted 
in fall. In the northern states, plants or bulbs planted in 
fall should be given light protection during the first winter, 
not so much to keep them from freezing, as to prevent 
alternate freezing and thawing, from heaving them out of 
the ground. 
With the exception of plants such as referred to above, 
early spring is perhaps the best planting time. This should 
be deferred, however, until the soil has become sufficiently 
dry to be friable. Never plant in wet sticky soil. All 
plants which are inclined to freeze out or winter kill 
should be planted in spring. They will endure much more 
severe weather after they have had a year in which to be¬ 
come established. This is particularly true of such plants as 
Anemone Japonica, Tritomas, etc. 
THE ROCK CARDEN 
The rock garden is one in which conditions necessary to 
the growth of Alpine and Saxatile plants are provided. 
Like any other garden, something of interest other than 
plant life should be provided, such as, pools, paths and 
rustic seats. If the room for an elaborate rock garden is 
not available, a smaller garden can be provided in which the 
tiny Alpines brought many miles from their native homes 
may be made happy. 
Perfect drainage is essential and a somewhat elevated 
position is preferable since it serves to provide such drain¬ 
age and also to display the plants to better advantage. The 
rocks should be placed in a natural arrangement and in a 
manner to best display the plants to be arranged among 
them. 
Stone of uniform composition should be chosen, weath¬ 
ered limestone, tufa or sandstone are usually quite satis¬ 
factory. Hard impervious rock, or those which crumble with 
age, such as, shale should be avoided. Bear in mind that 
the rocks, garden accessories, and evergreen and foliage 
plants must provide the center of interest during that part 
