Jlpril.~] AURICULAS, &c. 91 



tween the rows with cow manure, which will prevent the 

 moisture from evaporating, and the rain or water passing 

 through it greatly enriches the soil and strengthens the 

 roots. 



CHARACTER OF A FINE RANUNCULUS. 



" It is indispensable for a good ranunculus to have a stem 

 about eight or twelve inches high, strong enough to sup- 

 port the flower, and quite upright. The form of the flower 

 should be hemispherical, not less than two inches in dia- 

 meter, consisting of numerous petals, gradually diminishing 

 in size to the centre, lying over each other, so as neither 

 to be too close nor too much separated, but having more of 

 a perpendicular than a horizontal direction, in order to dis- 

 play the colours with better effect. The petals should be 

 broad, with entire well-rounded edges, their colours dark, 

 clear, rich, or brilliant, either of one colour or variously 

 diversified, on a ground of cinerous white, primrose, yellow, 

 or flame colour, or diversified with elegant stripes, .spots, 

 or mottlings." 



AURICULAS. 



Having under this head last month given ample direc- 

 tions for the treatment of these plants previous to flowering, 

 we refer to that head to avoid repetition. 



CHARACTER OF A FINE AURICULA. 



The pips should be large, flat, and round, with ground 

 colour equal on every side of the eye, which should be 

 quite circular, as well as the edge. The tube a bright 

 lemon yellow perfectly round, well filled with the anthers 

 or thrum, the eye round and large, the body colour black 

 or violet, the meal fine, the colour, in green-edged flowers, 

 should be a whole one, not a shaded green. The stem 

 strong, and sufficiently long to bear the truss above the 

 foliage the truss to consist of not less than five full-blown 

 pips ; only one stem allowed. 



