NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 129 



the full-sized pot, the balls should be reduced, and the roots 

 partially pruned, so as to allow of a large quantity of fresh 

 soil being added. Give a gentle watering to settle the soil, 

 and keep them a fortnight longer under the shade of the fence. 



Autumn Treatment. This commences in the last week 

 in February. The plants should be removed into a more 

 open place. If the weather is then moist, the pans should 

 be dispensed with, and the pots set upon a bed of coal 

 ashes, thick enough to keep worms from working in at the 

 holes at the bottom of the pots. 



Winter Treatment. This commences about the end of 

 April. The Polyanthus is more hardy than the Auricula, 

 and will do better if kept in a separate frame, where it can 

 have plenty of air, and rather less protection from frost. 

 The care necessary is, to place them upon a bed of coal 

 ashes, sufficiently thick to prevent worms entering the pots. 

 At the time they are placed under the frame let each pot and 

 plant be examined. If the pots are green and dirty they 

 should be washed clean, the hole at the bottom of the pot 

 should be examined to see that it is quite open, to allow the 

 superfluous water to run off freely ; the soil on the surface 

 should be stirred, all weeds and moss cleared away, a thin 

 top-dressing of fresh soil put on, and every decayed or 

 decaying leaf removed. If the leaves project over the edge 

 of the pots, let the latter stand in the frame so that the 

 leaves of one plant do not touch the leaves of the others. 

 In the Winter months they require only just enough water 

 to prevent them from flagging. 



Open Air Culture. These delightful Spring flowers 

 require a good soil free from superfluous moisture. If 

 divided in Autumn or in Spring they will flower all the 

 better. 



Ranunculuses. The Turban Ranunculuses are the 

 hardiest, and may be planted in beds, lines, or patches, as- 

 hereafter described. 



Soil. The soil should be retentive of moisture rather 

 than otherwise, water must not, however, stagnate in the 

 subsoil. The soil must be deeply trenched, and receive a 

 dressing of well-rotted manure ; old cow manure will be 

 better dug in sometime previous to planting. Let it be 

 thoroughly mixed with the lower soil. 



