RANUNCULUS. 



416 



RASPBERRY. 



if the weather be favourable ; waiting a 

 day, or even a week, is nothing in com- 

 parison with placing the roots in soil in an 

 unfit state to receive them. They are best 

 cultivated in 4-feet beds of rich loam mixed 

 with one-fourth part of decomposed cow 

 dung. The soil should be dug from 2 to 

 z\ feet deep, and if the situation is moist 

 and partly sheltered, so much the better. 

 A constant supply of moisture is essential 

 to their beauty and growth, although an 

 excess of water would destroy the tubers 

 during the cold of winter and early spring : 

 after their blossom-buds are formed, how- 

 ever, the surface of the beds must never 

 be allowed to become dry ; a daily soaking 

 of water will then be necessary in dry 

 weather, not only for the sake of the 

 flowers, but to preserve the roots from 

 injury, these being very near the surface. 

 The roots should be planted about 2 inches 

 deep and 6 inches apart ; their clawlike 

 extremities should be pressed firmly into 

 the earth, and the crowns be covered with 

 an inch of sand previous to another inch of 

 soil being spread over them ; the beds may 

 then be covered with a layer of spruce 

 branches, straw litter, or leaf mould, to 

 protect them from the frost : this will, of 

 course, be removed before the appearance 

 of the plants above ground. 



Propagation by Offsets. Ranunculuses 

 are increased by offsets, dividing the 

 tubers, and seed. Offsets is the usual 

 mode of increase, and they are generally 

 sufficiently strong to flower the first year. 

 Choice sorts may also be divided into 

 several plants ; every little knot that 

 appears on the top of a tuber will form a 

 plant if carefully divided, so as to insure an 

 accompanying claw. Unless, however, for 

 choice sorts, this mode of increase is not 

 desirable : by seed is the most rapid mode 

 of increase, as well as the only way of 

 securing new varieties. It is said by 

 some persons that ranunculuses never 



come true from seed, so that variety is 

 certain. 



Propagation by Seed. Perhaps the best 

 time for sowing is the month of January, 

 and the best place a cold frame. Sow 

 either in the frame or in pots or boxes, on 

 a smooth hardish surface, and barely cover 

 the seed with soil. Exclude the frost, and 

 keep the frame close until the plants show 

 two seed-leaves ; then gradually inure them 

 to more air, until the light may be entirely 

 removed in May. The little tubers may be 

 taken up when the foliage is quite ripened 

 off; they will require the same, or even 

 more attention, in watering than the old 

 roots. Some prefer sowing the seed on 

 beds out of doors in the autumn or spring 

 months. 



Storing Tubers. Generally ranunculuses 

 will have died down, and be fit for taking 

 up and storing, by the end of June or 

 beginning of July. The place for storing 

 should be dry ; a drawer with a bed of 

 sand being the most convenient. 



Raspberry, Culture of the. 



Raspberries flourish in any good rich 

 loam, and grow to perfection in a dark, 

 unctuous soil. As a rule, raspberries do well 

 where black currants flourish, and neither of 

 these are very productive where cherry-trees 

 thrive best. Before planting, the ground 

 should be well trenched and manured ; for 

 though the roots lie near the surface, it is 

 well to induce them to strike downwards in 

 the event of a dry season. The second or 

 third week in October is the best period 

 for planting. Strong canes should be 

 selected, and great advantage is gained if 

 they be taken up with soil upon their roots. 

 They may be put in singly, in rows, or in 

 bunches of three canes each. In this latter 

 case, it is desirable to cut the canes of 

 different heights ; the strongest may be 

 four feet, the second three feet, and the 

 third two feet. Staking will be necessary 



