ROCK PLANTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 18

ROCK PLANTS

To Divide Now Mossy saxifrages sueh as bathonieusis and apieulata are best divided now. As a rule they grow wpll and remain beautiful hr one situation for three or four years, at the end of which period the centre of the growth cushions turns rusty, a certain sign that the roots are impoverished and that these central shoots have had their day. The longer sueh plants remain in the same position, the worse will they become. It is no use thinking that you can improve them by top-dressing or feeding, or any of the expedients in general use for the revival of temporarily embarrassei) plants. Lift, divide and replant each clump at the earliest possible moment. To prevent root tearing, water the day liefore lifting. Lift carefully with a trowel or spade, afterward shaking the soil gently. Then take careful stock or the shoots. You will see that those in the outer zone are endowed with greater strength. This is natural, because they are younger. Use them only for replanting. The clump will break up easily by band. If you hold it firmly in the left hand, you can. by pulling vigorously with the right, make the division in any chosen place, if you reserve six shoots and a fair share of roots with each division, you will soon have a good number of healthy clumps for Increasing your stock. Before replanting, fork a foot: deep. Make the soil fine, working into it an inch thick layer of an equal part mixture of well-rotted stable manure and riddled''leaf-mould. Plant 6 to Pin. apart, according to the vigour of the variety.