April.] FLOWER GARDEN. 345 



sterling, for a single root of a new variety. Such is the present 

 rage for tulips in England. 



For the most suitable soil, and best method of planting, see the 

 Flower-garden for October. 



Ranunculuses. 



April showers, and frequent rains in May, are essentially neces- 

 sary to the growth and vigour of ranunculuses: if these tail, soft 

 water must be administered in sufficient quantities between the 

 rows, bv means of a common watering pot, with a long tube or 

 spout held low, so as not to wash the earth into holes: for it is bet- 

 ter to avoid watering the plants themselves, as it might chill them 

 too much, and stagnate their juices. The consequences of omit- 

 ting to water, when necessary, are these, viz: The plants will 

 make little progress; the blossom buds of the strongest will be 

 small, and the weaker plants will not bloom at all; the grass or 

 foliage will put on a sickly yellowish appearance, from which it 

 will not recover during the season; and lastly, the roots when taken 

 up will be small and lean. 



But such kinds of watering, however necessary, are by no means 

 so salutary to these, or any other flowers or plants, as fine warm, 

 natural showers; as they can neither be so equally dispensed, nor 

 are the plants naturally disposed to receive them when the atmo- 

 sphere is dry; because their pores and fibres are contracted, and 

 they are, as it were, in the expectancy of dry weather. 



Since it is evident that artificial waterings are, in all respects, so 

 much inferior to natural, it is, therefore, better to wait a day or two, 

 in hopes of a change of weather, than to be too hasty in affording 

 these succours, although the plants may appear to suffer for the 

 moment by the omission; for if such a change should fortunately 

 take place, they will receive infinitely more benefit from it than 

 when both themselves and the soil are already saturated or replen- 

 ished with water, not so congenial to vegetation as that ordained 

 by nature for the purpose. For their further treatment see the 

 Flower-Garden in May. 



Anemones. 



The beds of anemones, for the present, will require exactly the 

 same treatment as the ranunculuses; therefore it is not necessary 

 to say more in this place respecting them. 



Jluricidas. 



The auriculas, towards the middle of this month, will be ad- 

 vancing in their flower stems. If any plant is possessed of more 

 than one or two principal stems, it is advisable to pinch off the 

 pips or flower buds of the smallest and weakest, in order to render 

 the blossoms of the remaining larger and more vigorous than they 

 would be if this was omitted to be done in due time. 

 2U 



