Queries and Answers. 181 



much colour, from the soil being too rich. The same bed will last for three 

 plantings, that is, three years, with no more than trenching it each year two 

 spades deep ; the fourth year, half the mould may be replaced by fresh mould, 

 but free from any sort of dung. The bed being planted is to be sheltered 

 from rains for about a fortnight; and, when the bulbs have shot out leaves 

 above ground, it should be defended by a netting spread upon hoops, which 

 must be raised as the tulips get higher, and the sides and ends protected by a 

 fence of netting or wirework. This is absolutely necessary, on account of the 

 scratching of dogs and cats, which otherwise would destroy many blooms. 



With respect to the Ranunculus Beds, I observe you recommend placing 

 rotten dung at five inches below the surface; but the florists here say nine, 

 certainly not less than eight inches ; and that, if the dung were placed nearer, it 

 would cause the flowers to become blighted. The bed, after it is made, is, for 

 a week before planting it, covered with matting, or canvass, or hoops; but on 

 fine days it is uncovered, and raked into ridges to dry : for the ground at this 

 season (February) has much more moisture than is required to make a ranun- 

 culus root swell and vegetate ; and if this precaution were omitted, the pro- 

 bable result would be the rotting of many roots. In planting, the roots are 

 inserted with the thumb and forefinger, about an inch over the crowns, and the 

 bed is again protected for about three days, till its surface gets settled. As to 

 the time of planting ; roots planted in November are undoubtedly best for 

 increase and strength, but February is the month for planting for a young 

 show. Hereabouts there is no planting before the 14th ; and, this year, some 

 of the best growers did not plant till the 24th of the month. As soon as the 

 shelter of mats or canvass is taken away, the bed should be covered by 

 netting supported on hoops, which should continue till the awnings for pro- 

 tecting the bloom is put up. Ranunculus seed, sown in autumn (say early 

 in November), and effectually protected from frost and wet, will produce 

 stronger plants, and more likely to flower the second year, than spring-sown 

 seed ; although it is advisable to save some seed for spring sowing. I should 

 have observed before, that a ranunculus bed will last two years, with only 

 stirring the second year ; observing not to go down to the dung. Rotten 

 sheep dung, the shoveling of a sheep pen, is a good substitute for rotten 

 cow dung, which frequently cannot be got. 



Heartsease (Fiola tricolor) is now certainly become a florist's flower. I 

 hope to see, in the edition of the Encyclopcedia of Gardening now publishing, 

 some instructions for its culture. [See VIII. 573., and Encyclopaedia of Gar- 

 dening,ed. 1834, art. Viola, in the General Index.] I remain, sir, yours, &c. — 

 A Florist and a Reader. Wallingford, Feb. 26. 1834. 



Art. VI. Queries and Answers. 



Cobbett's Gardening. — Sir, I should like much to see one or more of your 

 correspondents, who are good practical kitchen-gardeners, take up the subject 

 of Cobbett's gardening, in order that its merits may be fully discussed; and to 

 show how far his system may be considered as applicable to, and available for, 

 the purposes of gentlemen's gardeners. 1 have reason to believe that Mr. 

 Cobbett's book has been extensively influential among the higher orders of 

 society ; and that in some instances, and perhaps not a few, it has been the 

 means of raising disputes between gardeners and their employers. Whatever 

 merits the book may be possessed of, it will lose nothing by a fair and candid 

 enquiry, and its faults, whatever they may be, will not be increased. — An Ad- 

 mirer of good Gardening. Feb. 1834. 



Impressions of the Leaves of Plants. (IX. 629. 719.) — Complete directions for 

 this purpose will be found in Murray's Book of General Knoivledge, p. 566. 

 This work was published in 1823. — J. G. 



Internal Temperature of the Stems of Plants. — Sir, I have a remark or two 

 to offer, which, although they may convey no information, may, if respondents 



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