164 THE RANUNCULUS. 



these, there are yellow-spotted flowers, brown-spotted, 

 and white-spotted, red and purple streaked, red and 

 white striped, red and yellow striped, besides mottled 

 and brindled in countless varieties. 



I have had occasion to remark more than once, 

 when purchasing Ranunculus roots of a very eminent 

 seedsman and florist in Fleet-street, that when I in- 

 quired of him what kind of soil was best calculated 

 for them, he answered, a strong loamy soil without 

 dung. I have proved the fallacy of such an obser- 

 vation. That they will grow in it is true, but in a 

 very stunted, starved, and imperfect state, with stems 

 weak and short, and blossoms small and insignificant. 

 That fresh loamy soil is proper I admit, but then it 

 is necessary to add a considerable portion of rotten 

 horse or cow dung. 



Your choice Ranunculus roots should never be 

 planted in our variable climate before the middle of 

 February, or the beginning of March, as the wea- 

 ther may be. 



It is true, they will live in the ground through a 

 tolerably mild winter without much covering, and 



