fer? 
BE 11 
uae ee ee ; Ponte 
a ape fs ve St Fe 
CD a : Poe f aol son - eat : 
‘ Pl : Sei 3 > 
iia ae cence 
scape ate DIRECTIONS. i 
Drainage is Sapte the first requirement of Western plants, so plant 
them where moisture, especially in winter, ern t - collect and ooo about the 
crown, 
Our soil is Rdhiy of rock and gravel with feveved vopetatile matter and 
some silt added. This is. often underlain with stony clay. Clay and gravel 
seem in effect to be quite similar. The same species is sometimes found grow- 
ing equally well in either.’ This means to me, that it is not necessary to 
haul in gravel to make a drained soil if a slope and an impervious surface will 
get the same result. ‘Your own soil formula may be as effective as any I could 
give and if you get in an extra shovel of this or that it may be better. 
I would advise, however, the liberal use of rocks and gravel, not alone on the 
surface, but to a considerable depth. The free circulation of air and moisture 
is important to cool the soil by evaporation 4s: well as for quick drainage. 
gas addition to good drainage at all seasons,’ ‘including winter, hich 
hountain plants usually have ample moisture in spring when the snows are melt- 
ing, and frequent showers later, but may get quite dry-in‘late summer, How 
inportant this drying out is, is debatable; but it may..bé advantageous to some 
species to with hold moisture after floweting and “induce a semi-dormant period. 
It seems logical that the time to move plants is during, or at the beginning 
of this dormanoy} holdihe then in storage if nece8sary until a suitable plant- 
ing time, or allowihe them to have their rest with only enough moisture in hot 
weather to prevdnt brittleness. When plants are reéeived, remove the wrap- 
ihgs and set the package in water over night. kKemove from the water and. 
keep in cool ‘place until ready to plant. If there is to be a long delay, 
cover the roots with dirt or the whole package with moss, 
Anyone who ever stood on a mountain top knows that the air circulates 
about alpines. I don't go so far as to recommend ‘4n electric fan, but suggest 
you avoid smoothering alpines among more aggressive plants. Make use of slopes 
and banks if you have them. They assist both air circulation and drainage. 
Sun shines ‘hot on western mountains, but rocks and rapid evaporation absorbe 
the heat. A large rock may reflect heat to a desert plant on one side and 
shade the site of an alpine on the other. Light shade that;:does not restrict 
air ‘circulation may prove an advantage in your long season area. 
Rocky Mt. soils are usually neutral or mildly acid, but.range from. PHS 
around & ‘sphagnum ‘bog to pH-8 over limestone. Most plients seem to adant 
regularly to some, Variation in soil acidity if ees SS aedite air, light, 
and i ‘teiiperature ‘are ‘satisfactory. 
-Pldnts from-the dry plains take ordinary soil: eoridltions|, fouki with mois< 
‘ayy! ‘decreased. « Perns and woods plants prefer a sandy humus over 4 -vorous 
subsoil} Rhey « -do not need the air circulation of vob aghi a a: 
and frequent moisturé.’— 
Silvery leaved plants are more abundant from areas of hot sun and drying 
winds. The villousness protecting the plant. Shade: plants are-more apt 
to have large, thin and green leaves, though this may be of little help in the 
culture of plants received without foliage and without labels. 
Fathandl ing: seedy, planting in sphagnum is recommended. Press the seed 
into < 4nch ° pulverized sphagnum ‘moss, availa ble from any florist, and spread 
over’ a ‘good, well drained soil, Then cover with a pane of glass. Sprinkle 
as often as ‘necessary to keep moss damp to the touch. Some seed germinate 
quickly, while others are more slow, sometimes coming even more abundantly 4 
a second year, Due, no doubt, to the controlled conditions of the alpine 
house, many Westerns seem to be well suited for this type of culture. 
Even on quite familiar areas, I am continually finding plants overlooked 
before, and failing to find some known to be available from the arsa, What 
to include in a list of this sort is something of a problem. I try to list 
what I think you would like and that I am reasonably sure to find. There are, 
of course, many morée I cannot get to all areas often and sometimes must 
eliminate unprofitable trips, If you have special interests, I would appree 
ciate hearing of them, but make no promises, I do, however, wish you overy 
SUCCOSS, . ‘ 
Frank H, Rose, 1020 Poplar Street, Missoula, Montana, 
