ON THE CULTURE OF THE RANUNCULUS. 99 



months, makes it equally as good, if not better, than it was pre 

 viously. I take out about three inches deep of the soil, an 

 cover the bulbs with fresh compost. 



If these few plain remarks give satisfaction to your readers, I 

 m ill send you shortly more articles on Florist Flowers, written 

 from personal observation and eKperience. 



ARTICLE II. 

 ON THF CULTURE OF THE RANUNCULUS 



HV J B. \V. 



It is not my intention to deprecate the practice of professed 

 gardeners, yet so often have I seen them fail in producing a 

 good blow of this pretty little flower, that I cannot forbear offer- 

 ing the following remarks on the mode of cultivating it. Having 

 a good collection of roots in a dry place, I prepare a bed in an 

 open border and south exposure, merely by adding a little of well 

 rotted dung to the common garden mould in the month of Octo- 

 ber. In February I turn this over to the depth of six inches, and 

 incorporate the old dun g well with it. In March I then plant the 

 roots in rows nine inches asunder, and three inches distant m 

 the rows ; as soon as they spring, I give repeatedly copious wa- 

 terings, which of course are not necessary in wet weather. The 

 want of success in the proper flowering of this root appears to 

 depend greatly on the insufficient supply of moisture in the early 

 part of its growth. 



When they are in bloom, I shade a little every day when the 

 weather is very dry and hot, taking care, however, not to weaken 

 the stems by such means. After they are done flowering, and 

 as soon as the leaves are withered, and having beside me a bason 

 full of water , I transfer the roots immediately from the earth to 

 the bason, and then pick the withered stems, leaves, and root- 

 lets from the roots, and having thoroughly washed them with 

 repeated effusions of cold water, I dry them in the shade, 

 and then hang them up in paper bags in the kitchen or 

 other dry place till the planting season returns. By wash- 

 ing the roots clean all eggs of insects are carried away, 

 which would, undoubtedly, whenever the sun poured forth his 

 strength, have beco living animals, and committed great ra- 



