322 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



may not be able or willing to incur much expense. Get a dozen 

 first-rate roots, and, placing them in different parts of the bed, fill up 

 the spaces with common ones. If you are obliged yourself to select, 

 you must bear in mind that roots may be true to name, and yet in 

 themselves useless. 



The great difficulty to be overcome in growing the ranun- 

 culus is encountered after the bloom is passed away, and the 

 roots will be either good or bad the following year, as they are 

 then treated. On this subject very much might be said. The 

 criterion by which a healthy root is known, is the plumpness of 

 the forked portions, and the fine velvety texture of the crown, 

 especially the latter. The tuber itself may be small and shrivelled, 

 and yet the crown will indicate a sound condition ; while, on the 

 other hand, a plumpness of the tuber ia of no service if the crown 

 is dull, and instead of becoming bright when rubbed by the hand 

 on the coat, crumbles away. 



Like the dahlia, the tuber of the ranunculus will be quite healthy 

 in itself, even where all the young buds or eyes are destroyed. It 

 may even live some time in the ground ; but vain will be the expecta- 

 tion of seeing a green shoot. When the substance of the tuber is 

 well filled, and the crown is glossy, success may be confidently 

 expected, as far as the roots themselves are concerned. It should be 

 remembered that the silkinessof the crown, although always present 

 in some degree, increases as the growing season advances. The 

 Turban ranunculus makes a very splendid show, and I wonder it is 

 not more grown in large gardens, as beds of it, each filled with 

 flowers of one colour, would have a most imposing effect. The 

 various kinds of Turbans may be purchased for three or four 

 shillings a hundred. As an early flower, it is worthy of notice. I 

 have had yellow Turbans off bloom and ready to be removed 

 by the second week in June, in time for filling the beds with other 

 plants. 



The ranunculus may be taken up without injury as soon as the 

 flower is withered, if the mould be allowed to adhere to it, and all 

 the roots thus removed are put into the ground in a place secured 

 from rain. They will then gradually become fully matured, and 

 may be cleared away in July. This latter circumstance removes 

 the objection of the beds being occupied too long to allow 

 their being afterwards filled with flowering plants. Half a dozen 

 beds on a green plot would present a gorgeous sight in May and 

 June. 



