RANUNCULUS, 73 



person in this neighborhood, in blooming the Ranunculus in the 

 open air. I shall therefore give his directions, as published in 

 Hovey's Magazine, August 3, 1844. 



" DIRECTIONS FOR THE CULTIVATION AND PLANTING OF THE 

 RANUNCULUS. 



"The soil should be trenched eighteen or twenty inches, 

 and composed of good rich loam, to which add one sixth part 

 of very old, well rotted cow-manure, and the same quantity of 

 clay, broken into small pieces ; add to this a little sand, and 

 thoroughly mix the whole ; if the soil binds, add some sandy 

 peat ; make the bed on a level with the path or walks ; the 

 plants would do. better if the bed was below, rather than above, 

 the level. 



" Having prepared the soil, as above, some time during the 

 summer or autumn, take the earliest opportunity, in the spring 

 succeeding, to stir up the bed one spit, and take off one and a 

 half inch of the soil ; then place the plants in an upright posi- 

 tion on the surface, six inches apart each way, and replace the 

 soil carefully, which will cover the crown of the Ranunculus 

 about one and a half inch ; deeper planting would be inju- 

 rious. After the plants appear, keep them free from weeds 

 and press the soil firmly around them after they get two 

 inches high. If the weather prove dry, water them freely 

 early in the morning, and shade them from the sun from nine 

 A. M. to three o'clock, P. M. As soon as the foliage becomes 

 yellow, take the roots up, and dry them thoroughly in the 

 shade, and keep them in a dry place. 



" The Ranunculus loves a cool and moist location, but no 

 stagnant water should be permitted, nor should they be placed 

 under the shade or drippings of trees. The morning sun, free 

 circulation of air, and shade, as directed, will ensure success/' 



The root of the Ranunculus is a cluster of small tubers, like 

 claws, united in the crown, which send up several bipartite 

 leaves and an erect, branched stem, eight or twelve inches 



