28 ON THE CULTURE OF THE RANUNCULUS. 



rose, that will cause the water to fall like dew. Should the water- 

 ing occasion any inequalities on the surface, fill them up and press all 

 smooth again with the board. The best way to sow the seed is to 

 take but a few in hand, and let them fall singly if possible, distri- 

 buting them ecpially just clear of each other over the surface of the 

 box. When this is done, cover the seeds lightly with some of the fine 

 mould till they are hid ; then give another watering : this will bring 

 many of the seeds into view. Cover those that are exposed and 

 place the box into its situation. The best situation is the frout shelf 

 of a greenhouse, or, for want of this, the window of a fire-room look- 

 ing to the south. Water every second day at first, and cover any 

 seeds that appear : when the sun becomes powerful, give daily 

 waterings. 



Guard against frost, for should the soil -be frozen while the seeds 

 are germinating, they will to a certainty be destroyed. 



In four or five weeks, according to the amount of sunshine, the 

 young plants will begin to appear. In coming up, many of them 

 will appear with the bran of the seed attached to the young leaves, 

 displacing the soil about the neck of the plant. In this case, some 

 of the fine soil will require to be let fall about the plant to fill up the 

 cavity. Many of the young plants will also (like the Auricula) throw 

 themselves out. Look over the box occasionally, and put those that 

 are out into the soil again, by making a small cleft, and pressing the 

 soil gently about the neck of the plant. When the plants have about 

 three leaves, turn the box every second day, to prevent the plants 

 being drawn. About the third week in March, top-dress the box. 

 First, remove carefully, without injury to the foliage or pulling up 

 the young plants, all the green slime on the surface. Replace this 

 with some finely-sifted old cow-dung in a dry state; let it fall equally 

 among the plants, then give a good watering ; after the top-dressing, 

 they will have quite a gay appearance, and will begin to grow 

 rapidly. 



The first week in April the box may be removed to a cold frame, 

 where it may have sun and air. Protect at night from frost. 



About the end of the month, when danger from severe frost is over, 

 the box may be removed to some sheltered situation where it will 

 get the morning sun till near noon. Water daily during dry weather 

 till the foliage begins to wither. When this takes place, let the box 



