RANUNCULUS. 243 



be purchased in England for about three dollars per hun- 

 dred ; a superior assortment would cost fifty ; this would 

 comprise some of the most select. Those generally brought 

 here and sold with Harlem bulbs, are worthless ; the tubers 

 appear fair to the eye, which is all that can be said of 

 them. 



The Ranunculus generally flowers a short time after the 

 Tulip, if planted in February, as soon as the frost is out 

 of the ground and can be worked. There are single and 

 semi-double flowers, but the double are considered the 

 florist's flower ; others are of no value. The florist's flower 

 only wants to be seen to be appreciated. 



Probably one of the most exciting pleasures would be to 

 raise those plants from seed procured from England. They 

 should be sown in February, in pans or boxes, in a sandy 

 loam, collected from the commons after the turf is taken 

 off, with a portion of old manure, mixed at least six months 

 before being used. If planted in old earth with new ma- 

 nure they will rot. In the second season your plants will 

 flower, and in most cases will be single ; this circumstance 

 should not discourage you; still persevere, and the next 

 season you will find them more double, and some of the 

 best will send up a pericarp, and in most instances without 

 anthers. This will be a good time to impregnate; take a 

 camel's hair pencil, and collect the pollen from the anthers 

 of semi-double flowers, and apply it to the pericarp of those 

 possessing good proportions, and nearly double ; by fertil- 

 izing the seed vessel, you will be enabled to get superior 

 seeds, which will give you some advantage over those you 

 can purchase. 



In planting tubers, great care is necessary to place them 



