on the culture of the ranunculus. 7 



Planting Time. 

 The time for planting will vary in the different portions of the 

 island. In the southern part, spring is earlier by a fortnight than 

 where I reside. A few degrees of latitude makes a sensible difference 

 in climate, therefore cultivators must be guided by the climate of 

 their respective locality. 



After the middle of February, when the surface soil will rake 

 easily, and the weather is dry, I commence to plant. The beds 

 must be full up to the wood edge, and quite level. This is best done 

 by a piece of board extending'across the bed ; and two persons causing 

 it to rest on the wood edge, and drawing it from end to end, will 

 speedily remove any surplus soil and leave the bed perfectly leveh 

 Then mark on the wood edge the rows, say four inches and a half 

 apart for the old varieties and five and a half for the new. If the 

 beds are four feet wide, twelve or fourteen roots of the old sorts may 

 be planted in each row, but ten of the new will be found sufficient, 

 in consequence of their more vigorous habit. The best way to plant 

 is to mark across the surface for each row. Then excavate with a 

 trowel to the depth of one and a half inch. To insure the exact 

 depth, I use a piece of wood with a notch cut at each end, the requi- 

 site depth, which is pressed into the drill till the projecting parts 

 rest on the wood edge, (the back of it serves for levelling the beds.) 

 In planting the roots keep the crowns up, press the claws into the 

 earth firmly to prevent worms casting them out, but take care not to 

 break them. Two persons, after a little practice, will plant a large 

 quantity in a little time by this process. 



Management from Planting Time till Blooming Time. 

 The roots, after having been in the ground for a few days, swell to 

 three times the size they were when planted. Should very wet 

 weather occur and afterwards sudden and severe frost, which is often 

 experienced at this early season, there is danger of some of the roots 

 being destroyed. In this case, it is advisable that some old mats 

 or dry litter of any kind should be laid over the surface of the beds to 

 prevent the frost penetrating to the roots. The beds can be cleared 

 when a favourable change takes place. By the middle of April the 

 plants wdl all be up. They frequently rise so strong as to displace 

 the soil about them. Look over them and take the displaced sod, 



