ANEMONIES AND RANUNCULUSES. 169 



end of the month, or in the beginning of No- 

 vember, unless the soil be cold and wet; in 

 which case, it is better to wait till the end of 

 February, or beginning of March. 



As the roots of ranunculuses and anemonies 

 begin to swell as soon as they are put into the 

 ground, and do not vegetate for some time, it 

 will be necessary, if there is any sign of frosty 

 weather, to cover the ground with straw ; and 

 if the frost be very severe, a mat must be* 

 thrown over the straw, but both mat and straw 

 ought to be taken off as soon as the frost is gone. 



The reason why this covering should be put 

 on is, because the root swells from the addition 

 of the water which it has soaked up, and as 

 water freezes much more readily than the 

 juices of the plant, the root is liable to be in- 

 jured by the frost ; and if once frozen before 

 vegetation has commenced, it decays. 

 P 



