G.ARDEN RANUNCULUS. 117 



the action of the spade, to resist the entrance of 

 air, which appears to be less necessary to the roots. 



Before and when coming into bloom, the 

 surface of the bed should be kept pretty solid and 

 moist by mulching- and occasional watering- with 

 manured water. Shading- will preserve and 

 prolong the beauty of the flowers ; and all 

 subsequent treatment to be observed as directed 

 for the anemone. 



Ranunculus tubers have been already de- 

 scribed. They increase themselves by viviparous 

 progeny ; but the connecting runner between 

 the old and young plants is usually so short, that 

 they appear as one and inseparable. This, how- 

 ever, is not the case : if the runner be cut by 

 the point of a knife, neither the old nor young 

 one will be damaged ; and, by such means, the 

 kind may be multiplied without end. 



The properties of a fine double ranunculus. — 

 "The stem should be strong, straight, and from 

 eight to twelve inches high, supporting a large, 

 well-formed blossom, at least two inches in dia- 



