IG THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



edging plant, or witli edging tiles, which would have the effect of an 

 elegant stone moulding, with the advantage of being easily removed 

 in altering or breaking up the bed. Arrangements would then be 

 made, by means of hazel hoops and rods, or a properly constructed 

 piece of light iron-work, for the reception of a tarpaulin or canvas, 

 to exclude late frosts, heavy rains, or excessive sunshine, during the 

 blooming of the plants. 



Without precisely such arrangements, an amateur desirous of a 

 gay bed of ranunculuses, bu.t not aiming at the production of show 

 flowers, might make sure of a good display by properly planting 

 them in well-manured loam in a firm .state, and if prepared three 

 months before planting, all the better. The roots of the ranunculus 

 always work deep, hence a shallow soil is quite unsuitable. A depth 

 of three feet is none too much, and if the lower spit is a sound loam 

 the roots will reach it, and frequent watering will be less necessary. 

 In a very heavy soil a little sand may be added with advantage, but 

 a very slight admixture will be enough. 



It is getting customary now to plant the ranunculus in Feb- 

 ruary ; November used to be the month, and, in situations not 

 subject to severe spring frosts, November and December may still 

 be considered the best times for planting. Not that the flowers are 

 finer, — they are simply earlier; and for this gain there is occa- 

 sionally a risk of losses through frost. The bed ought to be pre- 

 pared a full month at least before planting, to give it time to settle 

 and become firm, for failure is certain if the soil lies light and 

 spongy. Tor February planting, the bed ought to be ready early in 

 January, and the best time for planting is between the 1st and 

 20th of February, the precise day or week being determined by the 

 weather. There has been a good deal of discussion as to the 

 proper planting season, but it is now pretty generally agreed that 

 autumn planting is attended with risk, for which early blooming is 

 the only compensatiou, and that the first twenty days of February 

 are the saiest for collections of any value. In cold, wet, and very 

 tenacious soils, or in exposed situations, it would even be better to 

 defer planting to the first week in March ; and planting may be the 

 more safely deferred with the ranunculus than with most other 

 tubers, for they retain their vitality out of the ground two or three 

 years, and, if kept cool and dry, sufter but little exhaustion by 

 delay. 



To plant a bed of ranunculuses is rather a delicate affair. It 

 should be left to no subordinate, who is not thoroughly capable of 

 delicate gardening manipulations. It is a bit of fancy-work for the 

 amateur himself, and one in which he will take pride and pleasure. 

 First of all, judge if the soil is in a proper condition. It ought to 

 crumble when handled, and scarcely soil the fingers. If pasty and 

 adherent, the planting had better be delayed till a fine day has dried 

 it a little, for unless the soil can be handled freely, the planting 

 will turn out a clumsy affair. 



There is more than one way of planting ranunculuses. Some 

 growers mark off the bed, and then just stick the claws of the tubers 

 into the soil, and cover the whole with sand ; others dibble them 



