564 THE PLEASURE, OR [OCT. 



to support such covering as may be necessary for the preservation of 

 the roots from heavy rains and severe frosts. For their further 

 treatment see the ensuing months. 



The extraordinary preparation and trouble above recommended, 

 are only necessary to bring the finest kinds of hyacinths to the best 

 possible perfection ; but the nearer you can make it convenient to 

 approach to said method, in the cultivation of all the other varieties, 

 the greater perfection you may expect to have them in ; this, how 

 ever, must be governed by circumstances, and you need not despair 

 of having very fine flowers in any good, rich kitchen garden soil that 

 lies dry and inclines a little to sand; and even without any kind of 

 protection during winter. 



The common sorts of hyacinths, of every species and variety, may 

 be planted in open beds, or in small clumps round the borders, 

 three, four, or five roots in a place, and covered from three to four 

 inches deep, according to the strength of the roots and lightness of 

 the soil. 



PLANTING RANUNCULUSES. 



Ranunculus roots may either be planted before or after winter ; if 

 the soil and situation is remarkably cold and wet, it will be better to 

 defer planting till the first opening of spring, but then the earliest 

 opportunity of planting them should be embraced. 



In favorable situations, and where due attention can be paid to 

 the protection of the roots from severe frosts, the early part of this 

 month is the most preferable period and should be embraced, as the 

 roots will have more time to vegetate, and form themselves, and will, 

 of consequence, bloom stronger and earlier than those planted in 

 spring. 



The ranunculuses are originally natives of a warm climate, where 

 they blow in the winter, or more rainy season of the year; they are 

 of course partial to coolness and moisture, exempt from wet and frost, 

 which the more delicate sorts cannot bear, in any considerable de- 

 gree, without injury.* 



A fresh, strong, rich, loamy soil, is preferable to all others for 

 ranunculuses. 



The bed should be dug from eighteen inches to two feet deep, and 

 not raised more than four inches above the level of the walks, to 

 preserve a moderate degree of moisture ; at about five inches below 

 the surface should be placed a stratum of two years old rotten cow- 

 dung, mixed with earth, six or eight inches thick; but the earth 

 above this stratum, where the roots are to be planted, must be free 

 from dung, which woulji prove of more injury than benefit, if too 

 near them. The fibres will draw sufficient nourishment from it at 

 the depth above mentioned; but if the dung were placed deeper it 



* The best method of growing both ranunculuses and anemones is to plant 

 in frames covered with glass, and treat them in the same way as Neapoli- 

 tan violets, or else in pots in a cool green-house ; by this treatment they 

 will bloom strong, and perfect their growth before the hot weather com- 

 mences. 



