THE rLORIST-FLO'WER GARDEN. 535 



[plants for potting. These sliould be vigorous, healthy plants. The bed for 

 their reception may be prepared by digging out the soil for about 18 inches, 

 and filling it up, after providing proper drainage, with compost properly 

 mixed ; but a better plan is to make a raised bed for the purpose. This 

 may be done by placing a row of bricks, 18 inches high and four feet wide, 

 or wood, supported by stakes at each end, of the same height, and of a 

 length suited to the number of plants required. This bed should be filled with 

 compost, consisting of well-decomposed tm-fy mould, leaf-mould, and thoroughly- 

 decomposed cow-dung ; or, failing that, stable-manure, in the proportions of 

 a bushel and a half of the first to half a bushel each of the two latter: where 

 the loam is stifi", a little well-washed river-sand should be added ; where it is 

 light and sandy, equal parts of earth should be added. Such a raised bed 

 filled with this compost will answer every purpose. 



1670. The plants selected, which should be healthy and vigorous, but not 

 too large, plant them in rows 12 inches apart, and protect from frost, which 

 is easily done in the raised bed : occasional examination for their great 

 enemy the wire-worm, and the removal of dead leaves, is all the care they 

 require during winter ; in the spring, copious watering, and in summer, mulch- 

 ing, to prevent radiation. The plants may either remain to bloom in the bed, 

 or be used for bedding-out purposes, and the raised bed removed. 



i67i.i2a?iM«c?j^?(sanc^^%emone5.— Thesemay now bein flower or not, accord- 

 ing to the treatment they have met with. They are usually regarded as spring 

 flowers, and most undoubtedly always flower best at that season. In certain soils 

 and situations, however, the tendency to growth and flowering in anemones is 

 such that they have no sooner died down after spring-flowering, than they 

 throw out fresh leaves and flower again in autumn. This, however, is not 

 desirable, for it weakens the tubers, and the flowers soon degenerate. Autumn- 

 flowering may generally be prevented by excluding light and air from the 

 beds, by means of heavy top-dressings of well-rotted manure during the 

 summer months. Many persons take up anemone tubers as soon as the leaf 

 has died down ; but this is not necessary, nor is it a good plan, unless the soil of 

 the bed requires renovation, for the tubers will not keep many days out of the 

 ground. We have generally found the finest flowers to be produced the fii-st 

 spring after a new sowing ; but soil and situation have always a great effect 

 upon these beautiful flowers. Autumn is the time for ranunculus-planting. Do 

 not let September and October pass away without forming a good bed of 

 them. In early spring these gay flowers will well repay for all the care 

 bestowed upon them. The following appears to be the best mode for planting 

 ranunculus. Let the bed be made of rich garden-loam to the depth of about 

 two feet, with a surface abovit six inches deep, of a rich mixture of bam, 

 cow-dung well rotted, and leaf-mould. In this plant the tubers in drills about 

 two inches deep, taking care that the claws of the tubers are downwards, and 

 the soil well pressed about them. This depth of drill will allow the crown of 

 the tubers to be about 1^ inch from the surface. Additional protection 

 from frost will consequently be needed, which can easily bo managed by 



