350 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



room ; though not so much as it will take when in the open 

 ground, where it will often run to the depth of three or four 

 feet. On this account it is better to plant several in one 

 vessel : they may be four or five inches apart, and two deep. 

 The best time to plant them is in October ; but, for a suc- 

 cession, they may be continued at intervals even till Fe- 

 bruary. Those first planted will flower in May. When 

 planted in pots, they should be housed in the winter ; the 

 roots should be removed every year, cleaned, and dried, 

 and put in a dry place till wanted : they should be removed 

 immediately after the leaves have decayed. A proper soil 

 should be obtained for them, which should be renewed 

 every year. They must be often, but sparingly watered in 

 dry weather. 



Many species of the Ranunculus are also familiarly called 

 Crowfoot. 



The Aconite-leaved is often cultivated in gardens, by the 

 name of White Bachelors'-buttons, or Fair Maids of France* ; 

 and the Upright Meadow-crowfoot, with double flowers, by 

 the name of Yellow Bachelors'-buttons. 



The double-flowered variety of the white ones are very 

 delicate and pretty : they blow in May ; the yellow in June 

 and July. They may be increased by parting the roots in 

 autumn. 



Shakspeare^s " Cuckoo-buds of yellow hue" are supposed 

 to be the Butter-cup, or King-cup called by the French, 

 renoncule; grenouillette ; bassinet , pied decoq [cock's foot] ; 

 pied de corbin [crowfoot] ; bouton d^or [gold button] : in 

 the village dialect, piapau ; Jlor de buro [butter-flower] : 



* The writer a short time since walking in a nnrsery garden, a few 

 miles from town, was presented with a large bunch of these flowers by 

 an old woman, who informed her that they were called Fair Maids of 

 France, " because the Hemmergunts used to be so fond on 'em when 

 they was over here/' 



