RAN 



494 



RAN 



parent plant, and are, therefore, fit to I will not reach it at all, or if they do, 

 be planted as full grown tubers the their sudden transition into deep corn- 

 same season in which they are removed. ' post is at least unnatural: it is more 

 Smaller ones, which are unfit to bloom ' consonant with reason that the food 

 the following year, may be planted in a ! should be generally and equally dis- 

 hed prepared, as to be directed for the ' tributed." — Card. Chron. 

 full sized roots." ! Planting. — "The bed being about 



By Dividing the Tubers. — In minutely I four feet in width," adds Dr. Horner, 

 examining the crown of a ranunculus '" and any suitable length, and having 

 root, several small protuberances will ; been neatly smoothed over, the roots 

 be found, from each of which a shoot | should be planted about five inches 

 will arise, and the root may, therefore, j distant from each other in rows, which, 

 be divided by a sharp knife into as ! again, should be about six inches apart, 

 many parts as there are protuberances; If planted closer, as is commonly the 

 and "thus the danger of losing any rare case, the plants will grow comparatively 

 variety is much diminished. These j weak, and bloom more sparingly. 



sections will not bloom till the second 

 year." — Hort. Trans. 



Soil. — Mr. Hovy of Boston, one of 

 the best of the American horticulturists, 

 is quite right in recommending, as " the 

 best soil tor the ranunculus, a strong 

 rich mellow loam ; but good garden 

 loam, enriched with very old cow ma- 

 nure, or leaf-mould, will answer — fresh 

 mould, however, will insure a much 

 better bloom." 



" A somewhat moist and cool situa- 

 tion," says Dr. Horner, one of the best 

 of amateur floriculturists, " is the most 

 suitable. The bed, therefore, should 

 be so situated that it receive but a few 

 hours of the morning sun, and be in the 

 lowest part of the garden. It must not 

 be raised higher than the surrounding 

 walks ; should be two feet in depth of 

 soil, and have board instead of box 

 edging, that slugs, &c., which often eat 

 the tender foliage and opening flower- 

 buds of some varieties, may not be 

 sheltered. The only suitable soil is a 

 retentive loam, from the surface of a 

 rich old pasture, the sods included ; to 

 which should be added, and well in 



The situation of the rows having 

 been marked out, holes, one and a half 

 inch deep, should be dibbled with the 

 finger, or other instrument, in which 

 the roots should be compactly set, and 

 covered over with soil, after the manner 

 of dibbling beans, by this means the 

 surrounding soil is not disturbed, but 

 left close and retentive. 



" The next best plan is drawing drills 

 across the beds in rows, setting the 

 roots therein, and then filling them up 

 with the displaced soil ; the worst of all 

 plans being the raking the bed evenly 

 over, setting the roots on it, and then 

 covering the whole one and a half inch 

 with loose soil — yet this is commonly 

 practised." — Ibid. 



Choice of Roots. — Mr. Glenny recom- 

 mends " the middle sized, with firm 

 tubers and plump buds, as preferable 

 for planting; and care should be taken 

 to place a little sand under and over 

 each, to guard them against too much 

 moisture." — Gard. and Pract. Florist. 



General Management. — " About the 

 beginning of April," says Dr. Horner, 



the young plants will appear above 



corporated, one third of thoroughly- ground, when the loosened soil should 

 decayed cow manure. Fresh manure , be carefully yet firmly compressed with 

 must be avoided, as the roots will not ; the fingers abAt the roots, 

 bloom where it exists, but many will j «< During the months of April and 

 perish. All hot and stimulating com- May, should a continuance of dry 

 posts are equally pernicious. With the : weather prevail, water may be cautious- 

 enriched soil just recommended, the ly administered at intervals in an even- 



bed should be made at the beginning 

 of October, and finished off, and, on no 

 account, disturbed till planting time ; 

 for it is all important that the soil be 

 compact and close in which the roots 

 are planted. 



ing, but only just so much as will pre- 

 vent the soil of the bed from cracking; 

 or a little moss, or old spent tanner's 

 bark, &c., may be neatly placed be- 

 tween the rows, which will retain the 

 moisture in the soil. The injudicious 



" The practice of putting some inches and over abundant application of water 

 of manure at the bottom of the bed is i is a very common error, and one of the 

 not to be commended ; the roots either j greatest evils. It not unfrequently hap- 



