Dec] FLOWER GARDEN. 535 



When you are ready to sow your ranunculus seed, take it out of 

 the bag,', and if the weather be damp, spread it thin upon a sheet of 

 paper, before a moderate fire, till it is just warm, and no more; 

 then rub it out and clean it perfectly from any pieces of the stalk, 

 dried petals of the flower or other extraneous matter, which, if 

 sown with it, would create a inouldiness of very destructive con- 

 sequence. 



The last ten days of December, any time in January, or even the 

 first week of February, the seeds may be sown, but when conve- 

 nient, the early sowing is preferable. Each kind should be sown 

 separately in shallow frames (of either one, two or three lights, 

 according to the quantity) provided with glasses, similar to those 

 made use of for cucumbers and melons; the soil should be taken 

 out at least two feet deep, and replaced with good and suitable 

 soil, such as is directed in page 542; out of which the earth-worms 

 should be carefully picked, for these are extremely destructive to 

 the young plant, which they draw from a considerable distance 

 into their holes for nutriment. 



When the pit is filled, so as to reach about six inches up the 

 sides and ends of the frame, it should be suffered to remain a few 

 days to settle; then the surface should be made perfectly smooth 

 and even, and the seed sown upon it with the utmost regularity, 

 in such quantity as nearly to cover it, for accidents will befall 

 many of them; "the glasses should be placed on immediately, and 

 the frame kept closely covered with them for two or three days, till 

 the seeds begin to swell, observing to cover the glasses effectually 

 at night and in severe weather, to keep out the frost, and also line 

 the outside of the frame all around to its full height with tan, leaves, 

 or horse-dung, for a similar purpose: a little light earth should 

 then be sifted over the seed through a fine sieve, but not sufficient 

 to cover it, this should be repeated once or twice a week till the 

 greater part of the seed disappears. It is proper to remark in this 

 place that such seed as happens to be covered deeper than the 

 thickness of a dollar will never vegetate, and must of course inevi- 

 tably perish. 



Mr. Millar, in his Gardener's Dictionary, recommends the cover- 

 ing of anemone and ranunculus seeds about a quarter of an inch 

 deep; he is followed by Maw and Abercrombie, as well as several 

 other writers; and although these authorities are very respectable, 

 yet with me it is very questionable that either of them ever raised 

 an anemone or ranunculus in their lives from seed covered to that 

 depth, but more particularly the latter. 



It is necessary to keep the seed moderately moist by gentle 

 occasional waterings with soft water that has been exposed to the 

 9un or to fire heat till the cold chill is oft; this should be given 

 from the rose of a small watering pot, which rose should be of a 

 hemispherical form, and perforated with very small holes that will 

 discharge fine streams of water in a very distinct and regular man- 

 ner; this should be made of copper, it being less liable to corrode 

 than iron. 



But although it is necessary to the vegetation of the seed that it 

 4 B 



