ON RANUNCULUSES. 273 



of May, and when too large for the frame I placed most of them in the 

 greenhouse, where they were kept through the summer. One plant 

 has grown six feet high, and spread proportionally, making a fine 

 show with its blossoms. Other plants were from four to five feet. A 

 rich soil well drained, plenty of pot room, and a free supply of water, 

 will furnish plants of the above size. 



About the middle of May, I turned out a few of the potted plants 

 into the open border in the flower garden, one reached five feet high, 

 the others very fine. In this situation I gave a free supply of water. 

 The plants in both instances were fine specimens, and very superior 

 to any I have seen elsewhere, and had a most beautiful appearance 

 when in bloom. The largest plant had one hundred and five flowers out 

 at one time. I tried one plant to stand in a pan of water, and the 

 others to be watered in the usual way, but giving a very free supply ; 

 and by the latter mode the plants were not only healthier but much 

 larger. I concluded that the continued water in the pot, soured the 

 soil, and thus injured the plant. I have now a number of young 

 plants in small pots, for next year blooming. I judge a cool part of 

 the greenhouse will be suitable to keep them in through winter. 



I find that there are two or more kinds by the name cardinalis, 

 the one I have, is of a fine deep scarlet red, with the segments of the 

 limb of the corolla quite flat; the other is of a orange outside, scarlet 

 within, and the limb of the corolla bent back ; the latter is not near 

 so handsome as the former. 



ARTICLE VI. 



REMARKS ON RAISING SEEDLING RANUNCULUSES. 



BY MR. CARY TYSO, WALLINGFORD, BERKSHIRE. 



The importance of raising Florists flowers from seed, by which new 

 and improved varieties are obtained is becoming increasingly manifest 

 in the superb new sorts of Carnations, Picotees, Pinks, and Dahlias ; 

 but the cultivation of Ranunculuses from seed is limited to a very 

 few persons; though new and superior varieties are obtained with 

 equal ease and certainty of success. We grow some thousands every 

 year, and though more than half of them are comparatively worthless, 

 yet generally four or five in a hundred are equal to the best in 

 cultivation, and some of them superior to their far-famed predecessors. 

 It is certain that those who grow only the old sorts cannot success- 

 fully compete with those who grow seedlings, as may be proved 

 by reference to the Metropolitan and Royal Berkshire Horticultural 



