310 Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



that it was owing to the different seasons of cutting; for the 

 part that was cut in autumn had made shoots 4 ft. in length, 

 while that which had been cut in winter had made very few 

 shoots, and few of them more than a foot in length. The 

 part that was cut in the spring was little inferior to what was 

 done in the autumn. A marked lesson how cautious one 

 ought to be as to the season at which they prune the more 

 delicate sorts of fruit trees." 



13. On the Raising of Seedling Ranunculuses, tvith an Account of 

 some fine ones exhibited to the Society on the 22d of June, 1826. 

 By Mr. John Waterston, of Paisley. 



The seed was gathered about the end of July, and kept in 

 the seed-vessel, with the stems attached, till the March follow- 

 ing. It may be sown either about the beginning or middle of 

 that month. It was sown in boxes in a mixture of auricula 

 mould and fresh sandy loam, and before covering with earth 

 well watered : it was then covered with about 1 \ in. of the 

 same mould, very finely sifted. The boxes were put in a bed 

 of half-spent tanner's bark, covered with a frame of two lights, 

 and the following very ingenious mode was adopted of supply- 

 ing heat, when that of fermentation failed : — A tin vessel, of 

 the capacity of 6 or 7 gallons (Jig. 109.), was buried in the 

 bed, so that its top was about 

 8 in. under the surface of the soil. 

 In cold evenings this vessel was 

 filled with hot water by means 

 of the funnel and pipe (a), which 

 was found to keep up a temper- 

 ature nearly equal to that during 

 the day. When the vessel is to 

 be refilled with hot water, the 

 cold is withdrawn by the cock and pipe (&), and there is a 

 small pipe (c), from the top of the vessel, to admit the escape 

 of air in filling. A good many of the seeds were eaten by the 

 larvae of insects; and, to prevent this, it is recommended that 

 compost heaps should be covered at the beginning of autumn, 

 when most insects are laying their eggs. [A plan that well merits 

 adoption.] During the first year the plants require to be kept 

 in a regular state as to moisture, and shaded from the sun. 

 When the leaves wither the roots are carefully lifted, and kept 

 in a dry place till the ensuing February, when they are again 

 planted 1 in. deep in fine soil, and many of them flower in the 

 following July. A list is given of the flowers exhibited, which 

 were considered very fine. 



