ing snows ,to which all Alpines are accustomed, and should be so ar¬ 
ranged that the water can be turned off and on at will. 
Contrary to common impression, Alpines require something beside 
ashes and tin cans upon which to grow. While they do require a very 
stony soil, they need good soil mixed with the stones; more or less, 
according to the subjects being planted. 
We have found that a soil mixture consisting of one-half peat, one- 
fourth leaf mould and one-fourth clay loam is well adapted to the suc¬ 
cessful growth of nearly all Alpines. 
In building a Rock Garden, dismiss the idea of making “pockets” 
for your plants. This method was discarded long ago as being very 
unsuccessful. The soil in pockets is quickly exhausted, as well as the 
moisture, and after the plant has made its first growth, becomes stunted 
and soon dies. 
All Alpines are deep rooting. This fact should never be forgotten 
and when building rockery, wall or bank, ample depth should be pro¬ 
vided. It is a deep, cool root run, under the stones, that is required for 
success. 
Next in importance is a thorough ramming of the soil, to preclude 
the possibility of any air spaces. This one mistake is the cause of more 
failures in planting, IN ANY KIND OF A GARDEN, than any other 
one thing. THE SOIL CANNOT BE PACKED TOO TIGHTLY 
AROUND THE ROOTS. But in addition, THE SOIL MUST BE 
LOOSE ON TOP, that the rain may easily penetrate it, that the roots 
may breathe, and that there may be a mulch to keep the roots cool and 
moist. 
Alpine plants need to be planted in masses of one kind to obtain 
good color effects. This applies to all garden planting; but to Alpines 
most of all, as they are so small. 
We are always glad to give all the assistance possible to our 
patrons, by giving them any information desired as to the especial 
requirements of any plant. 
We use the utmost care in shipping stock. Plants are not dug and 
then left around to dry out, but each order is dug separately, put into 
receptacles filled with wet sphagnum moss and brought immediately 
to the shipping room. Each plant is then wrapped in wet moss and 
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