RAN 



495 



RAP 



pens that plants, which have looked 

 well for a time, at length begin to turn 

 yellow in the foliage, and the flower 

 buds dwindle and go off. 



" The dying of the leaves in some in- 



be put into paper bags." — Gard. and 

 Prac. Flor. 



Late Succession of Blooms. — To ob- 

 tain this, wo have ihe following direc- 

 tions by Mr. H. Groom, the well known 



stances evidently depends on a want of florist :- 

 vigour, or partial rot in the root ; and, 1 " The beds are prepared in the usual 

 in some few cases, it would appear to manner, the ground immediately after- 

 be caused by large earthworms, forming wards well watered with lime water; 

 their wide tracks amid the roots of the but to destroy the worms, which are 

 plants, nearly undermining them ; but otherwise apt to draw the roots from 

 in the great majority of cases, it is pro- ! their places; afterwards water with 



duced by injudicious watering. 



1 clear cow-dung water, until the foliage 



During the expansion of the flower makes its appearance. The beds are 



buds, and when they are fully blown, a 

 stage and awning should be erected 

 over the bed, as in the case of tulips, 

 that rain and hot sun may be excluded ; 

 and gentle watering every second or 



then kept shaded from nine in the morn- 

 ing till five or six in the evening, till the 

 bloom is over. For a bloom all the sea- 

 son, commence in February, and plant 

 every fortnight or three weeks; in Sep- 



third evening, may be given, which will ' tember, plant in a frame, and you will 

 keep the bed cool and moist, and pro- have a bloom about January or Februa- 

 mote the size of the flower. As much | ry." — Hart. Trans. 



air should be admitted as possible, that 

 the flower-stems be not drawn and 

 weakened." — Gard. Citron. 



Protection during Winter. — This 

 is essential ; and the following plan, 

 adopted by Mr. (ilenny, is excellent : — 



Forcing. — Mr. Bouche of Berlin, a 

 florist, gives these directions : — 



" Select tubers which have been kept 

 three or four months, or even a year, 

 over the season of planting, these being 

 more easily excited than those which 



Let the bed be made just the size have been only the usual time out of the 

 of a cucumber frame; place one of [ soil, plant them in pots about the be- 

 these on the bed, and if there is danger j ginning of August; and, by bringing 

 of heavy rains, or severe weather, put these into the green-house at diflierent 

 on the sashes. As soon as heavy frost periods, a bloom is kept up from Octo- 

 sets in, the whole of the interior of the ber to February." — Gard. Mag. 

 frame must be filled with leaves, and ! RAPE, or COLESEED. Brassicana- 

 the sashes replaced, and a few hoards ' pus esculentns. I ike mustard and other 

 laid on to keep the leaves from blowing '■ small salading, it may be sown at any 

 away. In this manner, the whole may period of the year, when in request, 

 remain until April, or until all danger being allowed a separate bed. It ia 



of frost is over, when the leaves, frames, 

 &c., may be entirely removed." — 

 Gard. and Prac. Flor. 



Taking up the Roots. — Upon this 

 point, the same excellent authority di- 

 rects this to be done " a fortnight after 

 the last flowers have faded, when the 

 foliage looks yellowish. It is a very 

 nice operation, and should not be done 



cultivated as Mustard, which see. 



To obtain Seed. — Some plants of a 

 sowing made about the middle of July 

 must be thinned to eighteen inches 

 apart; they will survive the winter, and 

 flower in the May and June of the next 

 year. The seed, which is produced in 

 great abundance, ripens in July and 

 August, and must be cut as it does so, 



hastily. The best way is to pare off ancl laid upon cloths to dry, as it is very 

 three inches of the sod into a sieve, if apt to shed. 



the bed is composed of mixed sorts, } RAPE (EDIBLE-ROOTED). This 

 and then, by shaking out the earth, the name may be applied to a variety of the 

 roots will remain. rape mentioned by Mr. Dickson, one of 



"When the varieties are named, the vice-presidents of the Horticultural 

 they must be taken up singly, and put Society. Its root is white and carrot- 

 in a box correctly labeled. They must shaped, about the size of the middle- 

 not be placed in the sun, but may be finger. It is much more delicate in 

 carried to a dry room, where they may flavour than the turnip, like which root 

 remain till the earth is sufficiently dry it is cooked, only that it is not peeled 

 to shake off easily, when they should | but scraped, its skin being rntnarkably 



