586 THE PLEASURE, OR [Dec. 



be kept moderately moist, too great a degree of moisture is never- 

 theless injurious, especially to the commencement of the spring 

 heat, and indeed at any period. 



When the young plants begin to appear, which, if sown in De- 

 cember or early in January, will generally happen about the latter 

 end of February, earlier or later, according to the temperature of 

 the weather and the care taken of the frame, refresh them occa- 

 sionally with gentle waterings, and give them air at every favour- 

 able opportunity; but be sure to keep the glasses close in very cold 

 weather, and well covered at night; observing, also, as the sun gets 

 powerful, to screen the plants from its mid-day influence, which 

 sometimes would in one hour destroy the whole. 



As the spring advances more and more air must be admitted, 

 and on fine days the plants totally exposed, except to a scorching 

 sun, so as to have them by the latter end of April, or as soon as 

 the smart night frosts are over, so hardened as to bear the open air 

 night and day; observing to keep them regularly watered, and to 

 give them the advantage of fine warm showers of rain, when such 

 happen in due time. 



This kind of management is to be continued till the roots are 

 matured, always taking care to protect the plants by a screen of 

 hurdles or thin bass-mats laid over the frame from the too powerful 

 influence of the sun, but never keeping this covering over them 

 longer than necessary. Their maturity will be known by the 

 foliage becoming brown, dry, and nearly consumed, which gene- 

 rally happens in the middle states towards the latter end of June, 

 or early in July. 



The speediest and safest method of taking up these small roots is 

 to pare oft' the earth three inches deep, having previously picked 

 oft" the dried leaves and any other extraneous matter that may be 

 found on the bed. The earth and roots thus collected are to be 

 thrown into a fine wire sieve that will not permit the smallest roots 

 to pass through it, which is to be worked in a large vessel or tub 

 of water nearly filled, the earthy parts will dissolve and wash away 

 and the roots remain in the sieve, which maybe easily picked from 

 the stones, &c. The upper rim of the sieve must at all times be 

 held above the surface of the water, otherwise some of the small 

 roots will float over and be lost. The roots are then to be dried 

 and preserved, as directed for the large roots in page 416, till the 

 latter end of September or early in October, when they are to be 

 planted and managed as in pages 542 and 543; observing that they 

 (being small) maybe planted somewhat closer than the large roots, 

 and will not require to be covered quite so deep. 



The ensuing season several of the largest roots will flower, espe- 

 cially the ranunculuses, and all of them the third year, at which 

 time you should carefully mark such as are worthy of being pre- 

 served, the others may be planted in small clumps in the warm 

 borders of the garden and pleasure-grounds, there to take chance. 

 The valuable kinds must be subsequently increased by offsets. 



Those who desire to raise these plants upon a small scale, may 

 sow H>« seeds in boxes, large pots, or <rarden p«ns, of good compost, 



