RANUNCULUS R1CINUS 261 



RANUNCULUS 



Crowfoot. HalJ -hardy perennial 



THE Ranunculus can be grown either from seed or from roots. The 

 seed is sown from January to March, in boxes four to six inches deep, 

 and should be dibbled in separately about an inch and a half apart. 

 A cool greenhouse or frame is the proper place for the boxes until 

 the spring is somewhat advanced. A little extra care is requisite to 

 insure free growth and a hardy constitution, and the roots should not 

 be turned out of the boxes until they have ceased growing, and 

 are quite ripe ; then they may be stored for planting in November 

 and February. For particulars on the treatment of roots, see 

 page 304. 



RICINUS 



Castor-oil Plant. Half-hardy annual 



ALTHOUGH this plant flowers freely, it is grown in the sub-tropical 

 garden principally for its noble ornamental foliage, and also in the 

 shrubbery border, either alone or in conjunction with such other fine 

 subjects as Canna, Solanum, Tobacco, and Wigandia. 



To have plants ready for making a show in early summer, they 

 must be raised as half-hardy annuals in February or March. From 

 the commencement a rich soil and abundant supplies of water 

 are necessary for the production of stately specimens. The seed 

 is large, and may be put singly into pots, or three or four in each, 

 and the latter is the usual practice. A temperature of about 60 will 

 bring them up. If several plants are grown in a pot, they must be 

 separated while quite young, and put into small pots filled with very 

 rich soil. It is almost impossible to have the compost too rich, so 

 long as drainage is quite safe. When the pot is full of roots shift to 

 a larger size, and commence the process of hardening, in readiness 

 for planting out in June. This is worth some care, for if the plant 

 receives a check when put out, it may take a long time to recover, 

 and then part of the brief growing season will be wasted. Many 

 gardeners never raise Ricinus in heat, but trust entirely to a sowing 

 in the open on the first day of May. The seeds are put in three 

 inches deep, in groups of three or four, and finally the plants are 

 thinned to one at each station. 



