230 General Notices. 



Planting Ranunculuses. — The middle of February is universally 

 agreed to be the best time for planting in this country. I have succeeded 

 in blooming them much finer, every year, than any I ever saw elsewhere, 

 and the following method of planting, &c., is what I have practised : 



I have grown my collection in the same situation during twelve years. 

 The bed was first made two feet deep, and the substratum is shaley rock. 

 Early in September I have the top foot of soil thrown aside, and the bottom 

 one wheeled entirely away, after which the soil of the top, previously thrown 

 out, is turned in to form the bottom portion; over it I spread about five 

 inches thick of well rotted dung, and have it well dug in. This being com- 

 pleted, I have the top foot of the bed filled up with " one year old turfy- 

 loam," well broken, about four inches of the surface soil sifted finer, to plant 

 the tubers in. In planting I have them five inches apart in drills ; after 

 placing them firmly, I carefully cover them, and when the soil is pressed 

 gently with a board over the Avhole, the crown of each tuber is covered " one 

 inch and a half" If frost occur, I cover the bed with a thick canvas (or a 

 mat will do) during the night. When the tops begin to push through the 

 soil, I carefully assist them, pushing without injuring the leaves. When 

 fully up, I have the surface of the bed stirred over, and this is often repeat- 

 ed afterwards. When the tops are pushed above the soil, I am careful to 

 have the soil pressed closely and firmly around the stalks to keep them 

 steady and from being injured by being; too dry. When the season is very 

 dry, I water between the rows on an evening, and use soft pond water. At 

 each watering I give as much as will sink deep, so that such an application 

 supplies moisture for a week or ten days, as the season may be. I shade 

 the bed every mid-day the sun is powerful, for two or three hours. When 

 the bloom is over, and as the leaves of any plant turn yellow, I immediately 

 take such up, not waiting for a general take up, as is often done, to the in- 

 jury of the early bloomers. — [Flor. Cab.) 



Winter Blooming Fuchsias. — Persons accustomed in the cultivation 

 of pot plants, are aware of the importance of allowing plants to remain a 

 certain period of time in partial repose, and also that before again excited 

 into growth, the young shoots previously made, should be thoroughly 

 ripened. This is simply cause and effect, forced upon the observation of 

 those whose duty it may be to attend to plant cultivation for any length of 

 time. That this period of rest in vegetation is brought about by natural 

 causes is evident ; at tlie same time it must be admitted that plants are ma- 

 terially altered in habit by a long process of cultivation, and when under 

 artificial treatment will, to a limited extent, grow, blossom, and ripen fruit 

 and seed, independent of the influence of the sun's rays. This is exempli- 

 fied by the many gay flowers that are to be seen in our greenhouses in the 

 dull months of autumn and winter. True it is that many of tliem are forced 

 into bloom by excited treatment, but this only shows what may be done to 

 gratify the lovers of floral beauty at a season when less of the bright corolla 

 is to be seen. It is an easy matter to mention a number of blooming plants 

 which never, at any season, lose their due share of admiration ; still I think 

 the Fuchsia is seldom thought of as a winter flowering plant, if I except 



