572 'Ranunculus \)aniassifblms and O'xalis floribunda. 



Art. XIX. On the Cultivation of 'Ranunculus \)arnassifulius and 

 O'-valis /Inrihnnda. By Mr. John Menzies, (iardener to Chris- 

 topher Kawson, Esq., Hope House, near Hahl'ax. 



Sir, 

 J?anu'nculus 7)arnassif(Mius of your Hortus Britanniais, 

 p. 230., was introduced in 1769, and is now very rarely met 

 with, on account of the difficulty of preserving it from the 

 attacks of snails and slugs in the spring months. I have for 

 the last four years used (for the preservation of this rare and 

 beautiful plant) a pot or snail trap {Jig. 117.), of the same 

 composition as a common garden pot, all in 

 one piece. The trap is 14 in. in diameter, 

 and 6 in. deep ; the plant is planted inside, 

 at ff, which is without bottom, and allows 

 the roots to penetrate through. The divi- 

 sion h is joined at the bottom without any 

 holes, merely for holding water. The trap 

 is then sunk nearly on a level with the sur- 

 face of the ground, in a situation where it is 

 shaded from the midday sun : the water 

 effectually prevents either snails or slugs 

 reaching the plant. The soil used is equal 

 parts of hazelly loam, vegetable mould, and 

 bog earth, in which the plant grows luxuri- 

 antly, throwing up flower stems from 10 to 

 12 in. high. It is proi)agated by seeds. The 

 trap should be covered in winter with leaves, 

 to prevent its being broken by the frost. In the bed with the 

 /Ranunculus I have grown pyrolas, cyprij^ediums, trilliums, 

 Panax trifolia, TrienttUis europae^i and americana, 7Rubus pis- 

 tillatus, arcticus, and Chamajmorus; Soldanclla alpina, Cliis//, 

 minima, and montana ; y/nemonc alpina, patens, acutipctala, 

 I laller/, vei nalis, and ^/arcissiflora : and 1 have planted, in a 

 little frame near it, Ej)igie\i repcns, 7*olygala paucil'olia, /Rho- 

 dodendron Cham.'ecistus and laiipunicum, Andromeda letra- 

 gona, y^nthyllis eriniicea, 7'arnassia caroliniuna and r/sarifolia, 

 Thalictrum «nemonoides, Z'halictrum r/nemonoidesflore plono, 

 Geniulna verna, alpina, and Saponaria alba ; Jefl'ersonm 

 diphylla, and Soldaiu'lla niininia alba. 



O'xalis floribunda //c>;7. liril., j). \d,5.[jbsea.Add.Sup.yi.595.'\ 

 was introduced in 182G from South America. This plant has 

 a singular fleshy root, quite different from the other species of 

 the same genus; and, as it possesses extraordinary beauty 

 when in flower, perhaps the K)lIowing mode of culture may 

 be worthy the attention of some of your readers : — On an 



