30 FLORICULTURAL GLEANINGS. 



in the culture of the Ranunculus than I have, but the method of 

 culture now detailed is the only safe one that will insure fine blooms 

 and healthy roots. 



I may here mention an experiment I tried lately. In 1841, I 

 had a bed prepared in my usual manner, for which the following 

 February I had no roots. Not liking to lose the use of the ground, 

 I took a crop of Lettuces from it, and towards the end of October 

 when they were used, the bed had sunk considerably, the surface 

 was slightly pointed with the spade, taking care not to disturb the 

 strata of dung. On the top was placed some fresh soil. Afterwards I 

 thought the soil in this bed might be too poor. I got a pailful of gas- 

 liquor from the gas-works ; it was diluted with water, and the am- 

 moniac fixed by the application of sulphuric acid, and then dis- 

 tributed equally over the bed with a watering-pan. The bloom in 

 this bed was very strong ; many of the flower-stems were two feet 

 in height, and the blooms averaging from three or four inches in 

 diameter ; the roots lifted also large and clean. The size of the bed 

 was twenty feet by four feet two inches wide. 



ARTICLE III. 



FLORICULTURAL GLEANINGS.— No. 13. 



BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE J. C. LOUDON, Esq. 



BY MR. WILLIAM HARRISON, SECRETARY TO THE FELTON FLORISTS' SOCIETY. 



The lamented death of this distinguished individual took place on 

 Thursday, the 14th of December last, at the residence of the deceased 

 gentleman, in Porchester-terrace, Bayswater, in the 61st year of his 

 age; and as I feel certain that any well-authenticated account of so 

 eminent a man must be acceptable to the pages of a floricultural 

 publication, I take the liberty of forwarding the following brief sketch 

 of his earthly career from the pen of a respectable contributor to the 

 " Gateshead Observer." 



" John Claudius Loudon, Esq. was one of the ablest, most volu- 

 minous, and useful writers that this, or, perhaps, any other country 

 has ever produced. Few persons can form any adequate idea of his 

 herculean labours ; for though his works are deservedly popular, yet 

 the number and variety of his publications, possessed by readers of 

 various classes and pursuits, seldom come at one time under the ob- 



