82 ON THE CULTURE OF THE RANUNCULUS. 



The preparation of tlie border, in the following manner, where 

 they are to be planted, is essenlially necessary ; and in order to 

 have a good bloom, as soon as the roots are taken up (for I always 

 plant in the same ground), I begin to dig the border two feet deep, 

 and expose it to the sun to pulverise and sweeten, turning it once 

 a month, always taking care to do it in fine weather. About the 

 last week in September, I throw up the border in small ridges 

 crossways, about four inches high, for the frost to mellow it till 

 planting time, which is generally about the last week in Januar>% 

 or the first week in February. At that time, if the weather should 

 prove- fine, 1 rake down Uie border as level as possible ; I then 

 take a garden line and stretch it exactly over the middle of the 

 bed, so as equally to divide it in two, and tlien mark out the dis- 

 tance the roots are to be planted, by means of a board made for 

 the express purpose (see figure) ; the holes are cut through with an 



inch and a half centre bit, exactly four inches apart, and a dibble, 

 cased with iron, to go through the board, exactly one inch deep ; 

 after placing the board close to the line, I begin making the holes 

 and putting in the roots, and when the whole of them are planted, 

 I cover them one inch deep with a rich loam that has been pre- 

 viously prepared, consisting of two-thirds of trenching earth, sward 

 and all, and one-third rotten dung from a cucumber-bed, turned 

 three or four times before using. This method of planting can be 

 done in considerably less time, which is of great advantage at this 

 season of the year, especially where a person has eight or ten thou- 

 sand roots to plant under name, and the roots are all one depth in 

 the ground. About the month of May, they begin to show the 

 flower-stem, and should it prove dry weather, they will require 

 frequent watering, which should always bo given between the rows. 



