594 Cultivation of Plants. 



congeners. The principal forms are described at some length 

 under the Liliaceae. All, or nearly all, are hardy in Britain, 

 though some of them will scarcely attain perfection except in 

 the warmer parts. A deep, well-drained, tolerably rich loamy 

 soil suits them admirably, and the addition of good leaf-mould 

 or peat, and sharp sand where a little stiff, is all that can be 

 desired. A reference to the descriptive details at pp. 501511 

 will give an idea of the many ways in which they may be em- 

 ployed to embellish the garden, either in the mixed border, 

 or in special plantations devoted exclusively to the species of 

 this genus. 



The Crown Imperial is a noble plant in its different varieties, 

 and will succeed best if treated generously, though it grows 

 freely enough in ordinary garden soil. 



c. Culture of Ranunculuses and Anemones. Under this 

 head we refer to Ranunculus Asiaticus and R. Africanus, and 

 Anemone Coronaria and A. hortensis, the progenitors of the 

 numerous florist's varieties in cultivation. The permanent 

 rootstocks of these plants are composed of fascicled fleshy tubers, 

 and they are here associated with the bulbous plants simply on 

 account of their being capable of sustaining life for a consider- 

 able period out of the ground. Indeed, they will retain their 

 vitality for one or even two years in a dry place, if protected 

 from frost. The successful culture of these plants is attended 

 with considerable difficulty, and this is especially the case with 

 the double varieties. The single-flowered Anemones are, how- 

 ever, hardier, and require no more than ordinary attention. 

 A few years back the choice double-flowered varieties of both 

 Anemone and Ranunculus were extensively cultivated, but at 

 the present time they are comparatively rare. This is probably 

 the result of exaggerated notions regarding the difficulties 

 attending their culture. These are by no means so great as is 

 generally supposed, though doubtless they are sufficient to cause 

 those with little time on their hands to shrink from encounter- 

 ing them. One thing is absolutely necessary to ensure good and 

 abundant flowers, and that is annual lifting after the flowering 

 season, when the leaves begin to die off. Otherwise they are apt 

 to start again and flower in the autumn, rendering the chances 

 of spring-flowering doubtful. A deep, free, well-drained soil, 

 copiously manured with thoroughly rotten cow-dung, or from an 

 old hot-bed, is also essential, with the addition of leaf-mould 

 and sand y according to the nature of the ground in question. 



