26 



RANUNCULUS ASIATICUS. 



Sept. 12th, 1840: — " I have no hesitation in pronouncing Messrs. 

 Tyso and Son's Ranunculus seedling to be infinitely superior to any 

 I have seen, new or old ; and not the least of their valuable proper- 

 ties is, their certainty of a full and vigorous bloom. One of them 

 sent up nineteen flower stems, all strong ; another fifteen ; and many 

 of them eight and ten ; their foliage being of the same luxuriant 

 character. I would not have credited this, had I not seen it. I have 

 three good seedlings from the roots I obtained from them (one year 

 old seedlings that had never bloomed) ; one of them, a white spot, 

 is really infinitely superior to all I have seen ; it is perfect in shape, 

 size, &c. : the others are also striking varieties." 



The raising of hybrid flowers is at all times interesting, but espe- 

 cially so in so pretty a tribe as is the Ranunculus, in its humble, 

 modest, and in all cases beautiful flowers. The productions most amply 

 repay for every attention. There are two excellent articles on rais- 

 ing seedlings in former numbers of the Cabinet, one by Mr. Carey 

 Tyso, Vol. IV., p. 273, and the other Vol. VI., p. 109. It now being 

 time for what is termed spring sowing, we refer our readers to those 

 articles, and strongly advise a trial. 



In the year 1629, Parkinson informs us, there were only eight 

 varieties in cultivation; according to Ray, in 1665, the number had 

 increased to twenty ; in 1764, Justice enumerates one hundred; and 

 in 1792, Maddock had upwards of eight hundred. Since that pe- 

 riod many very superior ones have been raised. A list of one hundred 

 and forty fine kinds is given by a correspondent in Vol. VI., p. 26, 

 to which should be added the subsequent blooming seedlings of 

 Messrs. Tvso. 



The last week in February is the most approved time for planting. 

 For rules to guide in planting, &c, we refer our readers to Vol. I., 

 p. 26, Vol. II., p. 145, and Vol. VII., p. 25. 



We have observed that in very dry seasons a small portion of 

 mulchy manure, laid over the spaces between the rows, has proved 

 very beneficial ; water, too, may be given freely, but should never 

 be sprinkled over the foliage, but poured between the plants, other- 

 wise it tends to turn the foliage brown, — and apply it in the 

 evening. 



When the bloom begins to fade, the plants must be carefully 

 attended to, for if left but a few days beyond the proper time, they 



