4 ON THE FAILURE OF RANUNCULUSES. 



rally recommended, yet I can vouch for the following method 

 being equally successful, and the trouble is certainly next to nothing. 

 In June take off cuttings at the third or fourth joint, cut the stem 

 across through, or immediately under, the joint, and take off the 

 lower leaves close to the stem. Choose a situation in the open 

 border, or under a wall, either quite or partially shady, and prick 

 out the cuttings three or four inches apart ; water as occasion may 

 require. When the plants appear to be rooted, pot them in 60's 

 in compost well incorporated of equal parts loam and very rotten 

 dung, which has become quite mould, and about a sixth part of 

 silver or pit sand. If a frame be bandy, the plants will be bene- 

 fited by being placed therein for a few days, or until they strike 

 fresh root. Snowdrop. 



ARTICLE IV.— On the Failure of Ranunculuses. By 

 Kate B. 



Tn the September Number of the Cabinet, Vol I. p. 148, an ar- 

 ticle appears on the failure of Ranunculuses during the last year, by 

 the Rev. Joseph Ttso. In perusing it over, and comparing his 

 remarks with my practical observations and experience, I cannot 

 avoid stating, that although Mr. Tvso's paper contains some 

 excellent remarks, yet some parts of it are calculated to mislead 

 the readers of the Cabinet into an erroneous method of cultivating 

 this beautiful flower, and consequently to meet with disappoint- 

 ment. To prevent this, is the object of my forwarding the present 

 remarks for insertion in the Magazine. 



After stilting the causes of failure, Mr. Tyso says, that " the 

 only means of preventing a like failure in similar seasons will be, 

 copious waterings and a cool shade." Now upon this I beg to 

 observe, that there is no more effectual way of preventing the 

 blooming of any plant whatever, than placing it in a cool shade. 

 Every florist knows that the sun, the bright sun, shining hot upon 

 the bed throughout the day, is indispensible to a profuse bloom in 

 any description of plant. I therefore recommend every cultivator 

 of the Ranunculus to make his bed in that part of his garden 

 where it will have no shade whatever. 



Mr. Tyso is correct in stating that the failure was very general 

 last season ; but such failure should be attributed to neglect alone. 



