LrST OF THIRTY-SIX EXTRA SUTERB RANUNCULUSES. 11 



parts of the East, where varieties could be found. But enclosed within 

 the inaccessible walls of the Seraglio these flowers remained unseen by 

 the rest of the world, until bribery, which surmounts the loftiest towers 

 and breaks the strongest bolts, entered the palace of the sultan, and 

 secured the roots of these highly-cherished plants, which soon afterwards 

 flourished in every Court in Europe. 



We are told (in France) that this fine flower was one of the fruits of 

 the Crusades, and that St. Louis first brought it into that country. 

 This would make its introduction into France as early as the middle of 

 the thirteenth century, which was about one hundred years prior to the 

 taking of Constantinople by the Turks. 



Admitting that Louis IX. brought it from Palestine into France, 

 there can be no doubt but that the plant was soon lost in that country 

 from the imperfect state of gardening at that period ; and we should 

 have obtained it from thence instead of sending into the eastern parts 

 of the world for these roots, which it is evident we did in the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth, as Gerard tells us, in his herbal of that reign, that 

 one kind of Ranunculus " groweth naturally in and about Con- 

 stantinople, and in Asia, on the further side of the Bosphorus, from 

 whence there hath beene brought plants at diuers times, and by diners 

 persons, but they haue perished by reason of the long journey and want 

 of skill of the bringers, that haue suffered them to lie in a boxe, or 

 such like, so long, that when we haue received them they haue beene 

 as drie as ginger ; notwithstanding, Clusius saith, he receiued a plant 

 fresh and greene, the which a domesticall theefe stole foorth of his 

 garden ; my lord and master, the Right Honourable the Lorde Trea- 

 surer, had diuers plants sent him from thence, which were drie before 

 they came as aforesaide. The other groweth in Alepo and Tripolis in 

 Syria naturally, from whence we haue receiued plants for our gardens, 

 where they flourish as in their owne countrey." This unvarnished 

 account fixes the time of the introduction of the Ranunculus into 

 England, and at the same time is a pretty satisfactory assurance that it 

 was not then growing in Paris, as Clusius would not have mentioned 

 the receipt and loss of a single root had it been common in the gardens 

 of his country. 



The Dutch, who studied floriculture as an art connected with com- 

 merce, soon turned the cultivation of the Ranunculus to a profitable 

 account, and they still continue to export these roots in quantities to 

 every part of Europe. But the florists of our own country have raised 

 a far more beautiful race of them than any other nation ; as witness 

 the very numerous handsome varieties which have been raised by 

 Messrs. Tyso, of Wallingford ; Lightbody, of Falkirk, and others. 

 The collections of the above-named florists are unrivalled, and stand 

 pre-eminently above all others. 



Our readers will know what is usually termed The Scarlet Turban 

 Ranunculus, or The African Ranunculus, whose flowers are large, 

 anil, being of a very vivid scarlet colour, produce a brilliant display. 

 This fine ornament of the flower-garden is not grown anything equal to 

 its merits ; like the Asiatic so does the African merit a place in 

 every one. 



