410 THE PLEASURE, OK [MAY 



on an asb, white, sulphur, or fire color ground, or regularly striped, 

 spotted, or mottled, in an elegant manner. 



There are more numerous varieties of beautiful double ranuncu- 

 luses than of any other flower, and we may add, that, neither them 

 nor yet anemones will give satisfaction unless well attended to accord- 

 ing to these directions. 



ANEMONES. 



Gentle and moderate waterings will be necessary for anemones, 

 during their period of flowering, as well as for ranunculuses; the 

 blossoms and petals of the former are of a more soft and flexible 

 texture than those of the latter, and are consequently more liable to 

 receive injury from high winds and heavy rains ; their colors soon 

 fade when exposed to a strong sun ; it is, therefore, equally necessary 

 to shade and shelter them whilst in bloom, in order to prolong the 

 extreme beauty of their flowers. 



Anemones continue longer after bloom in a state of vegetation 

 than ranunculuses, probably because of their greater degree of succu- 

 lency ; and even at the proper time to take them up, it will some- 

 times happen, that part of their foliage will not be entirely divested 

 of greenness and moisture ; when it thus happens, which it does more 

 frequently in rainy or wet seasons, much skill is necessary to ascer- 

 tain the critical period to take up the roots ; for if they are suffered 

 to remain toe long, especially if the season be moist, they will shoot 

 afresh, and be thereby materially weakened and injured ; it is indeed 

 better to take them up too early, than suffer them to vegetate in this 

 manner, but the roots will not be so firm and solid as if done at the 

 exact time. The safest and most effectual method to preserve them 

 from these disagreeable consequences, is to keep off all heavy rains 

 after the bloom is quite over, by means of mats and hoops, but on 

 no account suffer the ground to become too dry; the roots will then 

 regularly and gradually mature, and the foliage in due time will be- 

 come brown and dry, which will point out the true time to take up 

 the roots, and this will usually happen to be about a month after 

 bloom. 



For their subsequent treatment, see the Flower Garden for next 

 month. 



EARLY FLOWERING BULBS. 



Any curious bulbs that are now in flower, may be much prolonged 

 in bloom and beauty by occasional shade from the sun. 



Spring crocuses, snow-drops, fritillaries, crown-imperials, dens 

 canises, and all other early flowering bulbs that have done flowering, 

 should, where intended, be taken up as soon as their leaves decay. 



This ought to be constantly practised with such as have stood un- 

 removed two or three years, in order to separate the offsets, and to 

 select the best roots for new planting, for without this care the bulbs 

 would become numerous, and so small as to render the flowers very 

 insignificant. The offsets, when separated, may be immediately 



