OMITTED IN DECEMBER. 643 



to keep them under shelter at night and in wet weather ; then beat 

 or rub out the seed, fan it clean, expose it to the sun for a day or 

 two ufter and put it up in bags till wanted lor sowing. 



Some people plant the onions which they intend to produce seed, 

 in spring, but when planted at that season they are never so pro- 

 ductive of seed as those planted in October, and are much more 

 subject to blite ; howevrr, when it is so determined, it should be 

 done as soon after the middle of February, as it is possible to get the 

 ground in a fit condition to receive them, and should not be covered, 

 more than from two to three inches over their crowns ; observing, 

 to select for that purpose, such roots as have good properties and no 

 growths from their tops. 



A slight covering of straw or light litter laid over the October 

 planted beds, on the approach of hard frost, and raked clean off as 

 soon as the leaves b, gin to appear in spring, would be of use, 

 though it is not absolutely necessary to the preservation of the 

 roots, 



(rj> OMITTED BY MISTAKE IN THE PLEASURE OR 

 FLOWER-GARDEN FOR DECEMBER. 



Sowing Anemone and Ranunculus Seeds. 



THE double varieties of the Anemone hortensis, or broad-leaved 

 garden Anemone, and Anemone coronaria, or narrow-leaved, as well 

 as of the Ranunculus fiersica,or Persian Ranunculus, being generally 

 extremely beautiful, are peculiarly deserving of attention ; as all 

 those delightful flowers, displaying such a diversity of shades and 

 colours, are only seminal varieties, and as the number of them may 

 be annually increased, and superior varieties obtained, no good 

 Florist will neglect to sow seeds of each sort every year. 



The seeds of either kind, should be procured from semi-double 

 flowers, for the full double seldom bear any, and those produced 

 by the single, rarely give double flowers. Care should be taken to 

 save ihe seeds from flowers possessed of good properties, that is, such 

 as have tall strong stems, a considerable number of well-formed 

 petals, of rich, good, and brilliant colours. 



The seed of the Ranunculus should remain on the plant, till it 

 has lost its verdure, and becomes brown and dry, it may then be 

 cut off and spread upon paper, in a dry room exposed to the air ; 

 -when perfectly dry, it should be put into a paper bag and kept free 

 from all dampness till the time of sowing, otherwise it would be in 

 danger of contracting a mouldiness, that would infallibly destroy it, 



