320 General Notices. 



Now, if by this account of my little plot of ranunculuses, and the simple 

 directions here given, I induce some one to adopt the plan and succeed as 

 well as I have done, I shall consider my time not entirely lost. Here it 

 rnay be well to state, for the convenience of those who may wish to obtain 

 a collection of roots to begin with, that Mr, Lightbody, of Falkirk, and 

 Messrs. Tyso & Son, of Wallingford, from \vhom priced catalogues may be 

 had, are amongst the best growers in the kingdom. — [Midland Florist.) 



Cultivation of the Polyanthus. — In complying with your request, I 

 must confess to having much more confidence in cultivating the polyanthus 

 than in writing an article for the press. But if any remarks, given in my 

 plain humble way, can be found at all interesting to the readers of your 

 Avidely-extended and justly-esteemed useful publication, I shall be most 

 happy in communicating all and every particular connected with my simple 

 mode of cultivation and management, feeling, as I do feel, most an.xious to 

 see tliis much nfeglected, though deserving flower brought into a more ex- 

 tensive and healthy state of cultivation. 



I regret much to hear such repeated complaints of failure in the cultiva- 

 tion of the polyanthus, whiah I find much easier, and much less trouble and 

 expense than most other florists' flowers. Three things necessary to the 

 insurance of success are, first, the purchase of good plants from a healthy 

 stock ; second, proper soil and situation to grow them in ; third, regular 

 attention ; — the latter being required to a much greater extent in pot than 

 bed cultivation, therefore I should not advise those who are about to com- 

 mence, or whose gardens are far from home, to attempt growing them in 

 pots. 



But to commence forthwith, as there is no time for delay, select a spot 

 open to the sun throughout the winter, and free from overhanging and drip 

 of trees, mark tv/o feet in width, any length required, allowing eighteen or 

 twenty inches for path — one end of the bed to point east, inclining a little 

 south, the other end will be. of course, west, the same inclination north, 

 which will give the required aspect. Measure the length marked out, and 

 procure some fir poles, four inches thick and five feet long, have them sawn 

 down the middle, and tlius each will make two posts, one of which will be 

 required to every three feet your bed is in length, and one over. Provide 

 also some strips of red deal, one inch thick and two broad, for edging the 

 bed in front and at both ends ; and a few stakes, one foot long and two 

 inches thick, to be driven down about three feet distant, to the extent of tlic 

 bed, and the strips nailed on outside, next the path ; also four pantile laths, 

 the full length required from end to end. If the ends of the posts, stakes, 

 and strips of deal are brushed over with hot gas tar, mixed with one-fourth 

 of linseed oil, a few days previous to being put down, they will kist much 

 longer. All being in readiness, stretch a line, three feet six inches high, 

 from end to end, to the extent of the back or south side of the bed ; then 

 put down the posts till the tops are even with the line, and fasten them 

 firmly ; then nail thereon the pantile laths, commencing six inches from the 

 surface of the bed for the first, and the rest following with equal space to 

 the top. Dig out ail the soil a foot deep, clear and regular, and put in a 



