80 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



PLANTING EANUNCULUSES. 



jHE last fortnight in February and the first fortnight in 

 March make the month within which the Ranunculus 

 should be planted. Florists, as a class, are distinguished 

 for forethought, and hence it may be assumed that not 

 only the locality for this floral gem has been allotted in 

 the garden, but the necessary compost prepared. The formation of 

 the beds is properly the work of autumn, and the soil should not be 

 disturbed at this season more than about two inches deep ; but if in 

 any case this operation has been neglected, loam of tenacious, but 

 not clayey, texture should be procured, and mixed with half the 

 quantity of decomposed cow or horse manure ; and with this the 

 beds should be made up one foot in depth. The top layer, of two 

 inches thickness, should be free from fresh manure. ' Vegetable is to 

 be preferred to animal manure for this stratum, if added just previous 

 to planting. The beds should be level, not rising more than an 

 inch above the path, unless the soil be heavy and the subsoil cold, 

 in which case a greater elevation is admissible. Three feet to three 

 feet four inches will be found a convenient width. For planting 

 varieties under name on a small scale, margin-boards of three- 

 quarters of an inch in width, painted lead colour, and numbered 

 progressively with white paint, will be found the most secure, and 

 at the same time a neat arrangement, laths of any kind being more 

 liable to disturbance, accidents, or loss. A scale of the bed must, 

 of course, be made and registered. The making of two copies will 

 commend itself to the judgment of the prudent, as the loss of one, 

 when the only one, has often been the source of irremediable and 

 protracted annoyance to the connoisseur. Ranunculus roots (or, 

 more properly tubers) may be planted in drills, one inch and a half* 

 in depth, drawn longitudinally in the bed for mixtures, and trans- 

 versely for named varieties. The rows should be arranged to allow 

 the tubers to be about five inches asunder each way, or six inches by 

 five may be preferable, as an increase of width from row to row one 

 way of the bed, either transversely or from end to end, will have the 

 advantage of room for applying a top-dressing or water, in subse- 

 quent stages of culture. The tubers should be placed rather firmly 

 (claws downward) in the soil, and a knowledge of this fact has led 

 to the origination of many contrivances in the shape of dibbles ; but 

 drilling possesses some advantages over dibbling, as, with proper 

 attention, the required firmness of compost round the roots may be 

 obtained, and greater facility be afforded in a drill for placing the 

 tubers correctly, and without danger of injuring or fracturing the 

 claws. After depositing the tubers, rake the beds quite level ; and 

 if drying winds prevail, so that the fine surface become very dry, 

 a gentle pressure of the soil will be useful. Prepare a compost for 

 future top-dressing. Good loam, the top-spit of a fat pasture, and 

 decayed stable manure, or, if the soil be light, old cow-dung, in 

 equal parts, will be suitable for the purpose. 



